Octroyée

Octroyée is the feminine past participle of the French verb octroyer, meaning granted, conferred, or bestowed by a person or authority vested with power. As an adjective, octroyée describes something that has been officially granted or authorized, often in formal, administrative, or legal contexts. The masculine form is octroyé and the plural octroyées / octroyés.

Usage and meaning: Octroyer denotes the act of granting a privilege, right, license, charter, or other authority. An octroyée typically accompanies a feminine noun such as une charte octroyée (a charter granted), une permission octroyée (a permission granted), or une licence octroyée (a license granted). The term emphasizes the source of the grant—the granting authority, such as a monarch, state, or other official body.

Historical context: The expression is common in historical and legal documents. In medieval and early modern Europe, rulers and municipalities issued charters or privileges to towns, guilds, or individuals, described as chartes octroyées. These documents defined rights and exemptions, such as self-government, market privileges, or tax relief. The noun octroi also derives from the same root and can denote the act of granting or, in some contexts, a local tax assigned by an authority.

Etymology and tone: The word comes from the verb octroyer, rooted in Old French and ultimately derived from Latin legal vocabulary. In contemporary usage, octroyée retains a formal or sometimes archaic tone and is often favored in legal or ceremonial phrasing over more everyday synonyms like accordée or concédée.