Pronunciation: [fˈɪdə͡ld] (IPA) 
The word "fiddled" is spelled with two "d's" at the end, despite only one "d" being pronounced. The reason for this odd spelling is due to the English language's use of the "-ed" suffix to indicate past tense. When the root word ends in a voiced consonant sound, such as the "d" in "fiddle," the suffix is pronounced with an extra syllable, creating the /ɪd/ sound. This is indicated in phonetic transcription as /ˈfɪdld/.
Fiddled is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "fiddle." The term "fiddle" has multiple meanings and can be used both literally and figuratively. In its literal sense, it refers to the act of playing a violin, a stringed musical instrument, by plucking its strings with the fingers or using a bow. In this context, "fiddled" indicates the action of playing the violin in the past.
However, "fiddled" can also have a figurative meaning. In this sense, it describes the act of manipulating or adjusting something in a playful or experimental manner, often without a clear purpose or outcome. It implies a sense of aimless tinkering or tweaking without achieving any meaningful progress or result. For example, one might say, "He fiddled with the settings on his computer, but the problem remained unresolved." In this case, "fiddled" suggests that the person made unsuccessful attempts to fix the issue.
Furthermore, "fiddled" can be used to indicate engaging in dishonest or fraudulent behavior, typically involving misappropriation of funds or resources for personal gain. This usage conveys the idea of engaging in deceitful or fraudulent practices, often by manipulating records or accounts to divert money or assets for one's personal benefit. For instance, someone might say, "She was caught fiddling with the company's financial records, embezzling funds for her own use."
Overall, "fiddled" encompasses a range of meanings depending on the context, primarily denoting the act of playing a violin, but also describing tinkering or manipulating in an aimless or fraudulent manner.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "fiddled" has its origins in the Old English word "fidulan" which meant "to play on a fiddle or violin". The Old English term was derived from the Middle English word "fithel" or "fithele", which referred to a musical instrument similar to a fiddle. This Middle English word was ultimately borrowed from the Old Norse word "fiðla", which also meant "to play a stringed instrument". The term "fiddled" eventually emerged in the 16th century as the past participle form of the verb "to fiddle", encompassing the actions of playing the fiddle, manipulating its strings, or engaging in playful or frivolous actions.
