Complete the sentence by choosing the most appropriate word in standard English: The criminal was ________ lest he should escape.

Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks you to choose the word that best completes a formal sentence about preventing a criminal from escaping. Such questions are designed to test not only knowledge of dictionary meanings but also awareness of collocations, that is, which words naturally go together in real English usage.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The sentence is The criminal was ________ lest he should escape. The options are fetid, fettered, fettled, and feted. The structure lest he should escape tells us that some action was taken in advance to stop an escape. We therefore expect a verb or participle that describes restraining or securing the criminal, not praising or describing a smell.

Concept / Approach:
We first recall the meanings of similar looking words starting with fet. Fetid means foul smelling or having a bad odour. Fettered is the past participle of fetter, which means to chain or shackle someone, especially by the feet. Fettled comes from the phrase in fine fettle, meaning in good condition. Feted is the past participle of fete, which means to celebrate or honour someone. Only one of these meanings logically fits the idea of stopping a criminal from escaping.

Step-by-Step Solution:
First, test fetid in the blank: The criminal was fetid lest he should escape. This produces a strange meaning, because a bad smell does not by itself prevent escape.Second, test fettered: The criminal was fettered lest he should escape. This now makes sense because fettered means chained or bound to restrict movement.Third, test fettled: The criminal was fettled lest he should escape. This is not idiomatic, since fettled is rarely used alone in this way and relates to condition, not restraint.Fourth, test feted: The criminal was feted lest he should escape. This would mean he was celebrated so that he would not escape, which is illogical.Finally, compare all four trials and confirm that only fettered gives a logical and natural sentence in context.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify our choice by recalling common phrases from reading and media. Criminals, prisoners, and slaves are often described as being fettered, in fetters, or unfettered when free. This is a standard collocation in English. None of the other words typically takes a human object in this kind of legal or security context. Therefore, both meaning and real usage support the choice fettered.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Fetid describes something that smells very bad, such as fetid water or fetid air. It does not describe a security measure. Fettled is mainly used in the expression in good fettle, meaning in good shape or condition, and is not used as a simple verb form before a human object. Feted means celebrated or honoured, as when a celebrity is feted by fans; this is the opposite of how a dangerous criminal is treated. As a result, these three options do not fit the logical meaning of the sentence.

Common Pitfalls:
Examinees often confuse words that look or sound similar, especially when they share the same root letters. In time pressure, a learner may pick any option that seems familiar without carefully checking its meaning against the sentence. Another pitfall is to ignore the deeper logic of the sentence and focus only on the grammar. Always check whether the completed sentence describes a realistic action or state. When you see constructions like lest he should escape, think of prevent, restrict, or secure, which will guide you toward fettered in this particular question.

Final Answer:
The correct word is fettered, so the completed sentence is The criminal was fettered lest he should escape.