wondered

Wondered is the past tense of the verb wonder. It means to feel curiosity, doubt, or surprise about something, or to think about something with interest and questions in mind. In narration, wondered often signals that a character is considering possibilities or seeking an explanation.

Grammatical notes: Wonder is typically intransitive and is followed by a clause (whether/if, what, how, why) rather than a direct object. Examples: "I wondered what she meant." "I wondered whether you were coming." It can also take adverbial phrases such as "I wondered aloud" or "I wondered in silence." The past tense places the action in the past: "She wondered yesterday." The present perfect form is "have wondered."

Etymology and related terms: The verb derives from Old English and is connected with the noun wonder (a marvel). The past tense -ed form "wondered" is regular. Related words include wonder, wonderful, wonderment, and to wonder about something.

Usage and tone: Wondered is common in narrative and reflective writing; it conveys inquiry rather than certainty and can express mild skepticism or contemplation. It is less direct than "asked" and does not imply an answer but rather consideration.