described

Described is the past tense and past participle of the verb describe. To describe is to convey the appearance, nature, or attributes of someone or something through speech or writing. Described indicates that such an account has already been made. It may appear in active constructions (“She described the scene”) or as a participial adjective (“the described phenomenon,” meaning the phenomenon that has been described).

Etymology: The verb derives from Latin describere, “to write down,” formed from de- “down” or “away” plus scribere “to write.” It entered English via Old French and the Middle English period, with the modern spelling established by the Early Modern English era.

Usage: In formal or academic prose, described is commonly used to report how sources or researchers characterize a subject, often with a citation (“the model is described as robust”) or in the passive voice (“the method was described in detail”). The phrase “as described” signals reliance on a specific source. The word can also function as a participial adjective, as in “the described method” or “the described features,” where it modifies a noun to indicate prior description.

See also: describe, description, descriptive, descriptor.