Secoué

Secoué is the past participle of the French verb secouer and also functions as an adjective. It denotes something that has been shaken or disturbed, either physically or figuratively. In standard syntax, secoué appears in compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir (j'ai secoué…), and in passive constructions with être (la porte a été secouée). When used as an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: un arbre secoué; une foule secouée; des vêtements secoués.

As a reflexive verb, se secouer means to shake oneself, with the past participle agreeing with the subject: je me suis secoué; tu t'es secoué(e); il s'est secoué; elle s'est secouée. In figurative use, secoué can describe emotional or social upheaval: un pays secoué par la guerre, une population secouée par la crise. The noun form secouement refers to a shaking, upheaval or stir, and is used to describe notable disturbances or reformist impulses in discourse.

Etymology: the origin of secouer is not entirely settled. It likely derives from Old French, with possible links to Latin excutere (to shake off) through intermediary forms. The sense has broadened from literal shaking to metaphorical disturbance in social, political, ou emotional contexts.

See also: secouer, secouement, ébranlement, tremblement.