wagered

Wagered is the past tense and past participle of the verb wager. It means to risk something, typically money or valuables, on the outcome of a future event in the hope of gain or to secure a result. Wagering can be used in both formal and informal contexts and is commonly written with a direct object, as in "She wagered $100 on the race," or with the preposition "on" to indicate the event.

As a verb, wager can also take the form "to wager on" something, and the past perfect or pluperfect uses "had wagered" in combination with auxiliary verbs. The term is often considered more formal or ceremonial than the synonym "bet." In everyday language, "bet" is more common, while "wager" may appear in legal, contractual, or literary contexts.

Etymology and historical usage: Wager originates from Old French gager or gage, related to a pledge or security. It entered Middle English with the sense of pledging something of value on an outcome. The noun form "a wager" refers to the stake itself, or the act of betting.

Usage notes: Wagered is used for past actions and in perfect tenses, with no irregular conjugation beyond the standard -ed ending. In modern usage, "wager" and "bet" are often interchangeable, but choice of word can signal formality or literary tone. The phrase "to wager on" emphasizes the act of risking on a specific event or outcome.

Examples: "They wagered their entire stake on the final roll." "She had wagered everything on the outcome."