harbored

Harbored is the past tense and past participle form of the verb harbor. It generally means to provide shelter or refuge to someone or something, or to entertain, foster, or keep something (such as a thought, feeling, or idea) in one’s mind. In common usage, harbored can refer to offering safe passage or protection, concealing a person from authorities, or maintaining an emotion or suspicion over time.

In addition to its protective sense, harboring can appear in legal and ethical contexts. For example, harboring a fugitive or an undocumented person is typically described as a crime or civil violation in many jurisdictions, with penalties that depend on local law. The term can also be used more broadly to describe keeping something secret or not openly acknowledging it, such as harboring doubts, grudges, or intentions.

Harbor, the related noun and verb, shares the same core idea of shelter and refuge. The verb harbored arises from the same root that yielded the noun harbor and has been used in English since the Middle Ages. The adjective form harbored often appears in phrases indicating a held or sheltered status, such as “harbored by friends” or “harbored in a safe location.”

Spelling varies by region: American English typically uses harbor and harbored, while British English writes harbour and harboured. Both spellings convey the same range of meanings, with context determining whether shelter, concealment, or the holding of thoughts or feelings is intended.