Legged

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈlɛɡɪd/

Definitions

1. Characterized by the presence of limbs used for walking or standing
2. Referring to entities that have appendages designed for mobility or structural support
3. Possessing limbs adapted for walking or standing, enabling mobility and balance

Etymology: "Legged" is formed from "leg" plus the suffix "-ed", which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "having" that noun. The noun "leg" came into English from Old Norse "leggr" in the Middle Ages, displacing the older Old English word "shanc" for the human limb, while "legged" appeared in Middle English as "legged" or "leggyd" with the same sense of possessing legs. Its meaning is literal: a legged creature is one equipped with legs, such as a six-legged insect or a four-legged animal. Because the suffix is so productive, English speakers can coin such adjectives at will, which is why the word appears so often in compounds like "long-legged" or "four-legged." The plain form itself is simply an everyday descriptive term with no surprising shift in sense.

Synonyms: limbed, footed, pedal, bipedal, quadrupedal

Antonyms: legless, unarmed, unfooted, floating, hovering