délibérer

Délibérer is a French verb that means to think about and discuss thoroughly in order to decide. It is used for individuals and groups alike, especially in formal settings such as councils, juries, or boards, where options are weighed before a verdict or decision is announced.

Usage: the standard construction is délibérer sur + a matter, as in délibérer sur une question d’intérêt public. The noun form is délibération, referring to the act of deliberating and to the decision that results from it. In legal contexts, a jury or a committee deliberates before delivering a verdict or resolution. The term can also appear in broader contexts of careful contemplation and discussion prior to action.

Etymology: délibérer comes from Latin deliberare, meaning to weigh carefully. The word entered French in the Middle Ages and is related to the idea of weighing pros and cons before choosing. The related noun délibération and the past participle délibéré (used as an adjective meaning deliberate or intentional) derive from the same root.

Conjugation: common forms include present je délibère, tu délibères, il délibère, nous délibérons, vous délibérez, ils délibèrent. Imperfect: je délibérais; passé composé: j’ai délibéré; future: je délibérerai. Subjunctive: que je délibère; conditional: je délibérerais.

See also: délibération, délibératif is seldom used as a standalone term in ordinary language; synonyms include réfléchir, examiner, méditer. An antonym is agir sans délibération, or agir impulsivement in contexts where hesitation is absent. In sum, délibérer denotes the process of measured consideration that precedes decision.