Dialed

/ˈdaɪəld/ verb

Definition

Turned or adjusted a dial or phone number, usually on a phone to make a call, or adjusted a device using a rotating control.

Etymology

From 'dial,' which comes from Medieval Latin 'dialis' (daily), from 'dies' (day), because sundials track daily motion. Modern 'dial' shifted to mean any rotating numbered disk. Past tense adds the regular '-ed' ending.

Kelly Says

The word 'dial' survived the shift from rotary phones to push-button to touchscreen phones—we still 'dial' numbers on devices with no dials whatsoever, one of English's most stubborn ghost words.

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