[Pa. pple. of FEED v.] In various senses of the vb. a. Supplied with food; hence, nourished; lit. and fig. Chiefly with adv. prefixed, as highly, well fed; also in comb. with prefixed sb., as in bacon-, bounty-, grass-, rump-, stall-fed, etc. (see the sbs.). † b. = FATTED (obs.).
1483. Cath. Angl., 124/2. Fedd, pastus, cibatus.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 389. One of the feeid and fed seruants of ye Pope.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, II. ii. 3. I will shew my selfe highly fed. Ibid., II. iv. 39. A good knaue ifaith, and well fed.
1621. Lady M. Wroth, Urania, 378. His fed imagination, in conceit is so soone made to sterue againe with the speedy passing of that time.
1887. Ruskin, Præterita, II. vii. 235. A clear dashing stream, not ice fed, but mere fountain and rainfall from the Moro, ran past the house just under the side window, and was the chief cause of my stay, and consolation of it.
1892. R. Kipling, Barrack-r. Ballads (ed. 2), 140. To the cod and the corpse-fed conger-eel.
b. 1535. Coverdale, Luke xv. 27. Thy father hath slayne a fed calfe because he hath receaued him safe and sounde.
1549. Compl. Scot., vi. 39. The fox follouit the fed geise.
a. 1623. W. Pemble, Worthy Rec. Lord’s Supper (1628), 61. The blood of bullocks, and fat of fed beasts.
