So inflected. The past participle “stridden” (attested in the Oxford English Dictionary from 1576 to 1970), as well as its variant form “strode” (attested from 1817 to 1963), rarely appears today. Another past-participial form, *”strid,” was current before 1800, but it is now obsolete.
The form “strode” can be either the simple past or the past participle, but the best course is to reserve “stridden” for the past participle — e.g.: “It was 12:15, a mere 15 minutes after McQueen had strode [read ‘stridden’] into the chamber.” Jim Adams, “The Death Penalty in Kentucky,” Courier-J. (Louisville), 2 July 1997, at A1.
Some writers erroneously treat “stride” as a weak verb and use the misbegotten form *”strided” — e.g.:
o “Imitating Lowe’s in-court identification of Aleman last week, McNally strided [read ‘strode’] across the courtroom and pointed to a spectator.” Lorraine Forte, “Aleman Trial Headed to Jury,” Chicago Sun-Times, 30 Sept. 1997, at 3.
o “A man in a tie strided [read ‘strode’] into the G.I. Joe’s Lottery Agent on Smith Hill in Providence yesterday afternoon and placed $1,500 in cash on the counter.” Ariel Sabar, “World’s Biggest Jackpot, Up for Grabs,” Providence J.-Bull., 21 May 1998, at A19.
Language-Change Index — (1) “strode” for “stridden”: Stage 3; (2) *”strided” for “strode”: Stage 1.
*Invariably inferior forms.
