amusée

Amusée is the feminine singular past participle of the French verb amuser and is used as an adjective to describe a feminine subject that is amused or entertained. It denotes a state resulting from something that caused amusement and agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Forms: amusé (masc. sing.), amusée (fem. sing.), amusés (masc. plur.), amusées (fem. plur.).

Usage notes: As an adjective, amuses with être or with a passive-like construction, and it can appear in compound tenses when the feminine direct object precedes the verb (for example, Cette blague l'a amusée). It is not used as a standalone noun; the related noun is amusement (l’amusement). The meaning is centered on the feeling of being entertained, rather than on the act of entertaining (which is amuser or amuser quelqu’un).

Examples:

- Elle était amusée par le récit. (She was amused by the story.)

- Cette blague l’a amusée. (That joke amused her.)

- Elles étaient amusées pendant le spectacle. (They were amused during the show.)

Relationship to other forms: Amusant describes something that is amusing or entertaining; amuser is the verb meaning to entertain; amusement is the noun form. The past participle agrees in gender and number when used as an adjective or when a preceding direct object influences agreement with avoir as the auxiliary.

Etymology: Amusée derives from amuser, which in turn relates to the idea of diverting or entertaining, with the noun amusement forming a common companion term.

See also: amuser, amuse, amusement, amusant.