Agissements

Agissements is a masculine French noun that denotes actions or conduct, particularly when those actions appear deliberate, orchestrated, or questionable. The singular form is agissement and the plural is agissements. The term emphasizes a pattern or sequence of acts rather than a single gesture, and it is often used with a negative or neutral connotation depending on context.

Etymology and range of meaning: agissements comes from the verb agir (to act) with the suffix -issement, which marks an action or manner of acting. In everyday language, it can refer to any notable behavior: "Ses agissements ont surpris tout le monde." In more formal or critical contexts, it commonly describes conduct that is suspicious, improper, or unlawful, as in "agissements frauduleux," "agissements délictueux," or "agissements douteux."

Usage in legal and journalistic contexts: while not a technical legal term with a precise definition, agissements is frequently employed to summarize or characterize a suspect’s or a professional’s conduct over a period of time. It can convey the sense of a modus operandi, a pattern of actions, or a morally judged behavior. It is often paired with evaluative adjectives such as frauduleux, illicite, répété, or reprochable.

Usage notes and synonyms: agissements is somewhat more charged than neutral terms like comportement or conduite, and it is closer in nuance to manœuvres or pratiques in contexts of critique or accusation. It remains widely understood in both legal commentary and everyday reporting.

See also: conduite, comportement, manœuvres, pratiques.