cèdent

Céder is a French verb meaning to yield, to give up, to concede, or to transfer rights or property. The form cèdent is the third-person plural present indicative, translating as “they yield” or “they cede.” The verb is commonly used in contexts ranging from negotiating dynamics to legal or property transfers.

Etymology and morphology: cédé derives from Old French ce-der, from Latin cedere “to go, to yield.” Céder is a regular -er verb, with the present tense forms je cède, tu cèdes, il/elle cède, nous cédons, vous cédez, ils/elles cèdent. The first-syllable vowel alternates between é and è in different forms, reflecting standard French vowel alternations in this family of verbs. The past participle is cédé; the present participle is cédant. The noun cession refers to the act of transferring rights or property.

Usage and sense: céder typically conveys yielding in various senses—giving up a claim, yielding to pressure, or transferring ownership or rights. It is often contrasted with vendre (to sell) and with abandonner (to abandon). Common expressions include céder le pas (to yield the way), céder à la pression (to yield to pressure), and cession de droits (transfer of rights). In legal language, cession denotes a formal transfer, such as a cession de propriété or cession de créances.

Related terms: cédant (one who yields or assigns), cession (the act or process of transferring rights), et cédible (from the related verb family, though less common in general usage). The nuance of céder is to emphasize yielding or transferring rather than simple sale or abandonment.