Procéder

Procéder is a French verb meaning to proceed, to go forward, or to carry out a course of action. It is used in both general and formal contexts, including administrative, legal, and technical writing. The verb can also express origin or derivation in the sense of “to come from” or “to result from,” although this usage is more literary or scholastic.

The most common senses involve performing actions or carrying out procedures. With the preposition à, it introduces the action being performed: for example, procéder à un examen, procéder à une vérification, ou procéder à une enquête means to carry out an examination, a verification, or an investigation. With de, it expresses origin or source: cette méthode procède d’une tradition plus ancienne means this method derives from an older tradition. With par, it can indicate the method or means used: procéder par étapes means to proceed step by step.

Etymology: procéder comes from Latin procedere, from pro- “forward” plus cedere “to go, yield.” It is cognate with the English proceed.

Conjugation: procédé is a regular -er verb, but with the characteristic accents. Present tense forms include je procède, tu procèdes, il procède, nous procédons, vous procédez, ils procèdent. The passé composé uses avoir: j’ai procédé. Other tenses and moods follow standard -er verb conjugation patterns (imparfait: procédais; futur: procéderai; conditionnel: procéderais; subjonctif: que je procède).

Related terms include procédé (a method or technique), procédure (formal procedure), and procédural in legal or technical contexts. The verb remains common in formal writing when describing steps, actions, or origins.