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Humans have been making objects out of wood since before there even was an English language, but the adjectival use of "wood" didn't come into being until the 14th century, and "wooden" didn't appear until the 16th. (The word wood has ancient roots, but it originally existed only as a noun.) In Middle English, the adjective of choice was "tree" or "treen," as in a "tree vessel" or "treen shoes." "Treen" in turn came from the Old English word trēowen, from the noun "trēow" ("tree") and the suffix -en, which was used to indicate that something was composed of a certain material. As far as we know, no one ever used "treen" figuratively to describe things that are stiff as a board, but "wooden" was put to broader use soon after it was first recorded.
Examples of wooden in a Sentence
Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 1 May 2025
Featuring knit and crochet items, baby quilts, floral arrangements, jewelry and wooden crafts.
—Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2025
Built in 1950 for industrialist Leo Harvey, the midcentury marvel is one of Lautner’s early masterpieces—featuring a circular wooden courtyard, sweeping stone floors, and floor-to-ceiling glass that blurs the lines between indoors and out.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025
Its original wooden water wheel still stands, though parts of it were rebuilt in the 19th century.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wooden
Cite this Entry
“Wooden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wooden. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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