désignant

Désignant is the present participle of the French verb désigner, which means to designate or to name. As a verbal adjective, it describes something that designates, identifies, or points out another thing. It can modify a noun, for example: un geste désignant la porte (a gesture designating the door) or un signe désignant la direction (a sign designating the direction). The form agrees with gender and number: désignant (masculine singular), désignante (feminine singular), désignants (masculine plural), désignantes (feminine plural). The participle can also appear in constructions with en, as in en désignant le chemin, to express the action of designating while performing another action.

Etymology traces désignant to the verb désigner, which comes from Latin designare, meaning to mark out or designate, through Old French. The word retains a clear sense of marking, identifying, or pointing to something specific.

In use, désignant occurs mainly in formal or descriptive writing, where it helps characterize how something functions to designate or identify. It is common in grammar, lexicography, and discourse that analyzes designation or reference. Its close relatives include désignation (designation) and désigner (to designate).

Notes:

- The term is distinct from designated (désigné), which describes what has been designated rather than the act of designating.

- As a general rule, maintain agreement with the noun it describes: désignant, désignante, désignants, désignantes.