Surveillée

Surveillée is the feminine singular past participle of the French verb surveiller, which means to watch, monitor, or supervise. When used as an adjective, surveillée describes someone or something that is being watched or under supervision. It can also appear in passive construction with the auxiliary être: la zone est surveillée, meaning the area is being watched or monitored.

Etymology and forms: Surveiller derives from sur- (over) and veiller (to watch or stay awake). The gender and number of surveillée vary to match the noun it describes: surveillé (masculine singular), surveillée (feminine singular), surveillés (masculine plural), surveillées (feminine plural).

Usage and nuance: Surveillée is common in contexts such as security, law enforcement, and monitoring operations. It conveys ongoing observation rather than a single act of looking. It can describe people (une personne surveillée), objects (un site surveillé/surveillée), or conditions (une situation surveillée). The related noun surveillance refers to the act or system of watching or monitoring.

Examples in context: La zone a été surveillée par des caméras. Elle est surveillée par la police. Le patient est surveillé dans le cadre d’une surveillance médicale. In these uses, the form agrees with the noun it modifies.

Relation to related terms: Surveillant is the masculine noun for a person who watches or supervises (a supervisor or overseer). Surveillance is the noun for the act or system of monitoring. Surveillée should not be used as a standalone noun; it functions as an adjective or passive participle.

Translations: In English, surveillée is typically rendered as watched, supervised, or monitored, depending on context.