Past tense of 'further'; helped something move forward or achieve progress.
From Old English 'furðrian,' formed from 'furðor' (further/forth) with the verbal suffix '-ed' indicating past tense. The word has been used in English since around 1300.
The word 'furthered' appears on college applications and job resumes so often that admissions officers have probably seen it thousands of times—it's the go-to word for saying you helped something succeed.
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