remarked

Remarked is the past tense and past participle of the verb remark. It means to say something as a comment or to observe something in a way that draws attention or notes a detail. In contemporary usage, remarking is commonly followed by a clause introduced by that (e.g., “She remarked that the weather was improving”) or by the preposition on/upon (e.g., “He remarked on the delay.”).

Usage and nuance:

Remark is a relatively formal or neutral way to report an observation or comment. It is often used in narrative writing, journalism, and academic contexts. In everyday speech, speakers may substitute remarked with said or noted, but remarked adds a sense of attention or significance to the remark. The verb can be used in various constructions, including: “They remarked that the plan seemed risky,” “She remarked upon the changes in the policy,” and passive forms such as “The issue was remarked upon by several reviewers.”

Relation to related terms:

Remark can also function as a noun meaning a comment or observation (e.g., “That was an interesting remark”). The adjective form remarkable is unrelated in sense but shares the same root; remarkable means noteworthy or extraordinary. In contrast, to remark oneself is to make a remark, whereas to observe is to notice something more directly or attentively.

Etymology:

Remark derives from the English verb remark, which traces back to earlier French forms such as remarquer. The sense centers on noting or commenting, with the past tense remarked reflecting standard English inflection.

See also:

Remark (noun); remark (verb); notable/remarkable; observe; comment.