What part of speech does the highlighted word play in this sentence The animals were cloistered hold.?

The word "cloistered" is the past participle of the verb "cloister." In this sentence, it functions as an adjective modifying the noun "animals."

Here's why:

* Past participle: It describes a completed action (being cloistered).

* Adjective: It provides more information about the animals (they were cloistered, meaning they were confined or secluded).

The sentence would read more naturally as: "The animals were cloistered in the hold."