Pronunciation: [pˈɛtɪd] (IPA) 
The spelling of the past tense of the verb "pet" is "petted". The pronunciation of this word is /ˈpɛtɪd/, with the first syllable "pet" being the same as the verb. The second syllable "ted" is pronounced with a short "e" sound and a "t" sound. This spelling convention follows the standard English rule for forming the simple past tense by adding the "-ed" suffix to the base verb. So, if you pet your dog yesterday, you petted your dog.
Petted is the past tense and past participle form of the verb "pet." Petting refers to the act of gently stroking or caressing an animal, usually with the hand, as a sign of affection or to comfort them. It involves using gentle motions and often involves light touching or patting of the animal's body, such as their head, back, or fur. This action is commonly done with domesticated animals like cats, dogs, rabbits, or even larger animals like horses. Petting can provide comfort to the animal, establish a bond between the pet and the pet owner, and can be a way for humans to express love and affection towards their pets.
The term petted can also be used metaphorically to describe the act of treating someone in a gentle and affectionate manner. In this context, it refers to showing kindness, care, or fondness towards an individual. It can be used in situations where someone is providing emotional support, comforting, or treating another person with kindness and affection. This usage can extend beyond human-to-human interactions and could describe the way one person cares for or treats an inanimate object, such as a cherished possession or a sentimental item. Overall, the term petted encompasses both the literal act of stroking or caressing an animal and the metaphorical act of treating someone kindly and affectionately.
Spoiled by indulgence; indulged in fits of ill-humour; in a pet, in the sulks; a pet child, an indulged child.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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 petted is derived from the Old English verb petian, which meant to caress, fondle, or indulge. In Middle English, it evolved to pette and eventually to pet, which was used to express the act of treating someone or something with fondness and care. Over time, the past tense and past participle forms of pet shifted to petted.
