Élargie

Élargie is the feminine singular form of the French adjective past participle élargir, meaning widened or expanded. It is used to describe something that has been made broader, larger, or more inclusive, and can apply to physical spaces as well as abstract concepts. For example, une zone élargie (an expanded zone) or une perspective élargie (an expanded perspective). The feminine plural form is élargies, as in des perspectives élargies.

Grammatically, élargie behaves as a regular adjective that agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It is also the feminine singular form of the past participle élargi, which can appear in composite tenses when used with auxiliary être or avoir, depending on the construction. When used as a pure past participle in a passive or adjectival sense, it follows standard agreement rules: la porte a été élargie (the door has been widened). As an adjective, it typically precedes or follows the noun without changing meaning beyond agreement.

Etymology and usage notes: élargir derives from Old French eslargir, from Latin largus meaning wide or ample, with the French prefix é- modifying the sense to widen or extend. The form élargie preserves the feminine agreement and is common in formal and descriptive writing. Related terms include élargi (masculine singular), élargis (masculine plural), and élargies (feminine plural). Common collocations include zone élargie, perspective élargie, ouverture élargie, and champ d’action élargi.

See also: widen, expand, enlarge, extension.