Suspendues

Suspendues is the feminine plural form of the French adjective and past participle suspendu, meaning “suspended” or “hanging.” It agrees with feminine plural nouns and can also function as a shorthand reference to items that are hung or suspended in a space. The term derives from the Latin suspendere, “to hang up.”

In art, architecture, and interior design, suspendues commonly appears with feminine nouns to describe hanging works or elements. Examples include œuves suspendues (hanging artworks), toiles suspendues (hanging canvases), tentures suspendues (hanging draperies), and structures suspendues (hanging structures). These phrases refer to objects or installations that are suspended from ceilings, walls, or overhead supports.

In administrative or legal contexts, suspendues can describe people who have been temporarily removed from a position or duty. For example, des personnes suspendues means individuals who are currently suspended. The exact sense depends on the noun it modifies and the surrounding context.

Etymology and usage notes: suspendues comes from the verb suspendre and shares its core meaning of hanging or delaying. As with other French gendered forms, its use must align with the gender and number of the noun it modifies; when describing masculine or mixed groups, different forms such as suspendus are used.