Skilled

How to spell skilled

7 letters · 1 syllable

How to pronounce skilled

What does skilled mean?

1. adjectiveHaving or showing the training, ability, or expertise needed to do something well.

Skilled in a sentence

• The firm hired several skilled electricians for the new contract.

• She is a highly skilled negotiator who closes difficult deals.

Where does skilled come from?

Language of origin: Old Norse

This word descends from the noun 'skill', which came into English from the Old Norse 'skil', meaning a distinction, discernment, or knowledge. Norse settlers brought the term to England during the Viking age, and in early use it carried the sense of telling one thing apart from another, that is, having the judgement to know the difference. From that idea of discernment the meaning broadened to practical ability and competence at a craft or task. The adjective 'skilled' is simply the noun with the past-participle-style suffix '-ed' attached, describing a person who possesses such ability. The single 'l' before '-ed' (rather than a doubled 'll') is the small trap, since the base word 'skill' already ends in a double 'l' that is kept intact.

How the word is built

• skill (from Old Norse skil: distinction, knowledge)
• -ed (adjective suffix)