Agresser

Agresser is a French verb that denotes the act of attacking or assaulting someone, and can also refer to harassing or threatening a person. It is a transitive verb, typically used with a direct object: on agresse quelqu’un. The term can describe physical violence, but it can also apply to verbal or sexual aggression depending on the context. The reflexive form s’agresser exists in usage but is uncommon; more often one says se faire agresser or être agressé.

Etymology and senses: agresser originates from Latin aggressus, the past participle of aggredi, meaning to approach or attack. The word shares a cognate lineage with the English word aggressive and the noun aggression. In everyday language, agresser can refer to a range of hostile actions—from physical assault to verbal intimidation or coercive behavior.

Conjugation and forms: in the present indicative, the verb is conjugated as j’agresse, tu agresses, il agresse, nous agressons, vous agressez, ils agressent. Other tenses mirror standard French conjugation patterns: j’ai agressé (passé composé), j’agressais (imparfait), j’agresserai (futur), j’agresserais (conditionnel). The noun forms are l’agression (the act or instance of aggression) and l’agresseur or l’agresseuse (the aggressor).

Usage notes: agresser is commonly used in news reports, legal contexts, and everyday language to describe acts of violence or coercion. Collocations include agresser physiquement, agresser verbalement, and agression sexuelle. In legal terms, l’agression can refer to any unlawful attack or assault, with specific classifications such as agression physique or agression sexuelle depending on the circumstances.