wept

Wept is the past tense and past participle of the verb weep, which means to shed tears in response to emotion such as sadness, grief, joy, or relief. It describes an action completed in the past and can appear in simple past sentences as well as perfect tenses, for example, She wept at the news or He has wept before.

Etymology and forms: The verb weep is of Germanic origin, with cognates found in other Germanic languages. Wept is the irregular past tense and past participle form. The present tense is weep (he weeps), the present participle is weeping, and the third-person singular form is weeps.

Usage and nuance: Wept is commonly used in narrative prose and poetry to convey emotion that has already occurred. It can reflect intense or prolonged crying, but it does not necessarily imply ongoing action. In modern usage, the past tense wept may be combined with auxiliary verbs to express perfect aspect, as in, "They have wept," or "She had wept by the time help arrived." The verb is generally interchangeable with phrases like cried or sobbed, depending on the tone and emphasis.

Style and notes: The form wept is often found in historical, religious, or literary contexts, where a more formal or conventional diction is appropriate. A common error is the misspelling weeped, which is not correct in standard English. Wept remains the correct past tense and past participle for the verb weep.