tested

Tested is the past tense and past participle of the verb test. It is used to indicate that something has been examined, tried, or evaluated, or that it has completed a testing process. As an adjective, tested describes something that has undergone testing or has a proven track record, as in a well-tested method or a tested device.

Etymology: The word test derives from the noun test, with roots in Latin testum via Old French; the verb form developed in Middle English. The -ed ending marks the past tense and past participle in regular verbs.

Usage: In science, engineering, and software, items are tested to assess safety, performance, or reliability. In general discourse, one may say a hypothesis was tested or that a product is well-tested. The term appears in compound phrases such as field-tested, lab-tested, or tested against benchmarks. The form is versatile in both descriptive and evaluative contexts, allowing it to convey completion of an evaluation or a level of demonstrated reliability.

See also: testing, test (word).