armed

¹

[ahrmd]

adjective

1. having a specified number or kind of arms (often used in combination): a weak-armed quarterback.

   a four-armed Hindu god;

   a weak-armed quarterback.

armed

²

[ahrmd]

adjective

1. bearing firearms; having weapons.

   a heavily armed patrol.

2. maintained by arms.

   armed peace.

3. involving the use of weapons.

   armed conflict.

4. equipped.

   The students came armed with their pocket calculators.

5. (especially of an animal) covered protectively, as by a shell.

6. fortified; made secure.

   Armed by an inveterate optimism, he withstood despair.

7. (of an artillery shell, bomb, missile, etc.) having the fuze made operative.

armed

¹

/ ɑːmd /

adjective

1. equipped with or supported by arms, armour, etc

2. prepared for conflict or any difficulty

3. (of an explosive device) prepared for use; having a fuse or detonator installed

4. (of plants) having the protection of thorns, spines, etc

armed

²

/ ɑːmd /

adjective

1. 1. having an arm or arms

   2. ( in combination )

      long-armed

      one-armed

Other Word Forms

• half-armed adjective
• well-armed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of armed¹

First recorded in 1500–10; arm ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ³ ( def. )

Origin of armed²

First recorded in 1250–1300; arm ², + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The Sudanese government and armed forces didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The masks and lack of identification have sowed fears the armed men could be people posing as law enforcement officers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And while the armed forces provide guaranteed pensions after 20 years and unmatched job security, they don’t offer bulky salaries or six-figure year-end bonuses.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

One of those men, serving time for armed robbery, said the reunion brought a rush of memories: “Seeing her in a dress, crying and running to me … that broke me down.”

Read more on Salon

The bandits are local armed groups, often on motorbikes, with no central organisation, who operate mainly in the north-west.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• equipped 
• loaded 
• outfitted www.thesaurus.com
• supplied www.thesaurus.com