tried

The word "tried" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "try." Its etymology traces back to the Old French word "trier," meaning "to sift" or "to separate," which itself comes from the Latin "terere," meaning "to rub" or "to wear." The Latin root is related to the Proto-Indo-European root *ter-, which means "to rub" or "to turn."

In Middle English, "try" emerged as "trien," influenced by the Old French "trier." The sense of "to attempt" or "to make an effort" developed over time, reflecting the action of testing or examining something. The transition from the physical act of sifting to the metaphorical sense of attempting or testing can be seen in various contexts, such as "trying" a new method or "trying" someone's patience.

The word "tried" thus encapsulates both the historical and linguistic evolution from physical actions of separation and examination to the broader, more abstract notions of effort and experience. The usage of "tried" in phrases like "tried and true" further emphasizes its connotation of tested reliability and experience.