Poursuivies

Poursuivies is the feminine plural form of the past participle of the French verb poursuivre (to pursue). In grammatical terms it can function as an adjective or be used as part of a nominal phrase to refer to a group of people who are being pursued or prosecuted. The corresponding masculine plural form is poursui vis, and the feminine singular is poursui vie; the forms agree with the noun they modify, for example les personnes poursuivies or une personne poursuivie.

In legal and historical writing, the expression is used to designate individuals against whom proceedings have been initiated. The typical construction is les personnes poursuivies (the pursued, i.e., the defendants or those subject to charges). The term is not a formal legal status in itself; rather, it reflects the grammatical role of the participle and is commonly replaced by more specific terms such as prévenu, inculpé, or accusé depending on jurisdiction and stage of proceedings.

Notes on usage: because poursui vies agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, you would use poursui vies for feminine plural subjects, poursui vis for masculine plural subjects, and so on. In contemporary French, more precise terminology is often preferred for legal contexts, but poursuivre-based forms such as poursuivies appear in historical texts or in general references to those under pursuit.