Cavalcaded

/ˌkævəlˈkeɪdɪd/ verb

Definition

Past tense of cavalcade used as a verb; to move or process in a cavalcade or grand procession.

Etymology

From the noun 'cavalcade' with the past tense suffix '-ed.' This is a back-formation where a noun has been verbed—relatively uncommon usage, appearing more in literary or dramatic contexts. The practice of nominalizing verbs and then verbing nouns back is a productive feature of English.

Kelly Says

Verbing nouns (turning nouns into verbs) is one of English's favorite tricks, and 'cavalcaded' is a playful example. Shakespeare might have said 'the knights cavalcaded forth,' and this kind of linguistic flexibility is why English absorbs new language so easily from literature and creative writing.

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