dévoilé

Dévoilé is the masculine singular past participle of the French verb dévoiler, meaning to unveil or reveal. In use as an adjective, it describes something that has been uncovered or disclosed, as in “a plan unveiled” or “the unveiled results.” Its feminine form is dévoilée, and the plural forms are dévoilés (masculine) and dévoilées (feminine). In compound tenses, the past participle appears with the auxiliary avoir or être, depending on the construction. For example, “les résultats ont été dévoilés” uses être in a passive-like construction, while “ils ont dévoilé les résultats” uses avoir, with potential agreement if a preceding direct object is involved (e.g., “les résultats qu’ils ont dévoilés”).

Etymology and form: the term derives from de- plus voile (veil), literally indicating the removal of a veil. The sense centers on making something hidden visible. The noun corresponding to the act is dévoilement, referring to an unveiling or disclosure.

Usage: dévoilé is common in journalism, politics, arts, and event announcements to signal that information, plans, or works that were previously concealed are now presented. It often conveys a deliberate or staged reveal, rather than an accidental disclosure. The reflexive verb se dévoiler means “to reveal oneself” or “to unfold,” as in revealing one’s true feelings or intentions.

Notes: the near-homograph dév o u é (devoted) is unrelated in meaning and spelling. As with other French past participles, dévoilé agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies or with the subject in passive constructions.