devolvida

Devolvida is the feminine singular past participle of the Portuguese verb devolver, meaning that something has been returned or given back. In use it functions as a passive participle or as an adjective, agreeing in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Etymology and form: Devolver comes from Latin devolvere, meaning to roll back or bring back. The participle in Portuguese inflects for gender and number: devolvido (masculine), devolvida (feminine), devolvidos (masculine plural), devolvidas (feminine plural).

Usage: Devolvida is common in passive constructions and descriptive phrases. It often appears with forms of ser or estar to indicate a completed action, such as a item that has been returned. It also serves as an adjective in noun phrases, for example, “mercadoria devolvida” or “carta devolvida.” Examples include: “A encomenda foi devolvida ao remetente,” “A mercadoria devolvida chegou ao depósito,” and “As peças devolvidas estavam em embalagem original.”

Grammatical notes: Because it is a participle, devolvida agrees with the noun it describes. When the subject is masculine or plural, the corresponding forms are devolvido, devolvidos, or devolvidas accordingly. The opposite notion is represented by devolver in the active sense, and by devolução for the noun form meaning return or refund.

See also: Devolver, devolução, and related phrases in which the past participle is used to indicate a returned item or a returned action.