Appuyé

Appuyé is a French term derived from the verb appuyer, meaning to press, to lean, or to support. It functions as both an adjective and a past participle and is used to describe something that is resting on or against another object, or something that is stressed or emphasized in tone, argument, or style.

In its physical sense, appuyé describes something that is resting on or supported by another object. For example, a door can be appuyée against a frame, or a bench can be appuyé to a wall. The word agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: un meuble appuyé, une porte appuyée.

Figuratively, appuyé conveys emphasis or force. A ton appuyé is a deliberate, emphatic tone, and des arguments appuyés are arguments that are well supported by evidence. In writing or speaking, appuyé can describe a style that is firm or forceful, as in un style appuyé or un discours appuyé, where ideas are presented with clear emphasis or gravity.

In handwriting and calligraphy, écriture appuyée refers to strokes made with pronounced pressure, producing bold, heavy lines. This usage captures the tactile quality of the strokes rather than a linguistic meaning.

Grammar notes: appuyé is the masculine singular past participle of appuyer. It can function as an adjective or as part of a compound tense. When used with être, it agrees in gender and number (la porte appuyée). When used with avoir, agreement depends on whether the direct object precedes the verb (je l’ai appuyé contre le mur).

See also: appuyer, appui.