adhère

Adhère is a present-tense form of the French verb adhérer, from which the infinitive is adhérer. It is the spelling used for both the first-person singular present (j’adhère) and the third-person singular present (il/elle adhère). The verb means to adhere, to stick physically, and also to join, support, or subscribe to something.

The basic sense of adhérer covers two main uses. Physically, it means to adhere to a surface or to cling to something. Figuratively, it denotes conforming to rules, aligning with a belief, or becoming a member of an organization. In modern French, adherer à is the common construction for joining or subscribing to a party, club, policy, or ideology, as in "Elle adhère à ce club" or "Il adhère aux règles."

Etymologically, the word comes from Latin adhaerēre, meaning “to cling to.” Related terms include adhésion (adhesion or act of joining), adhérent/adhérente (a member), and adhérence (adhesion, either in a physical or figurative sense). The verb is often used in both secular and formal contexts, including politics, clubs, associations, and professional standards.

Conjugation in the present indicative is: j’adhère, tu adhères, il/elle adhère, nous adhérons, vous adhérez, ils/elles adhèrent. Other tenses follow regular -er conjugation patterns: imperfect j’adhérais, future j’adhérerai, etc. English equivalents include to adhere, to stick, or to join/subscribe to something. In usage notes, adhérer à typically implies voluntary alignment or formal membership with an organization, principle, or guideline, rather than mere physical sticking. See also adhérent, adhésion, and adhérence for related nouns.