trod

Trod is the simple past tense of the verb tread, meaning to step or walk on something with the feet, often with particular force or care. It can also convey figurative senses, such as moving across a surface or advancing through a space.

In standard grammar, the forms of the verb are tread (present), trod (simple past), and trodden or, less commonly in modern usage, trod as the past participle. Trodden is the more common past participle in contemporary English, as in “the path trodden by many travelers,” while trod is still used as a past participle in some varieties and constructions, for example, “they have trod carefully.”

Etymology traces trod back to Old English treadan (tredan), from the Germanic family of languages. Related forms appear in Dutch (treden) and German (treten). The word has retained its core meaning of stepping or pressing with the feet, while acquiring broader uses in idiomatic and metaphorical contexts.

Usage notes: trod is most often found in narrative past tense. It appears in phrases such as “she trod softly,” “they trod on the gas,” or “the crowd trod the path worn smooth.” The expression “trod underfoot” is a common figurative form describing someone or something being crushed or oppressed.

See also: tread, trodden, footstep, stepping, walking.