essayée

Essayée is the feminine form of the past participle of the French verb essayer, meaning to try or to attempt. It functions both as a participle in compound tenses and as an adjective indicating something has been tried or tested. The masculine form is essayé and the plural forms are essayés (masc) and essayées (fem).

Usage as a past participle

In passé composé with the auxiliary avoir, the past participle generally agrees with a preceding direct object. For example: J'ai essayé la robe, but when using a pronoun it becomes Je l'ai essayée, where the feminine direct object la (la robe) precedes the auxiliary and triggers agreement. In passive constructions, the participle also agrees with the subject: La robe a été essayée par plusieurs clientes.

Usage as an adjective

Essayée can describe a noun to indicate it has been tested or tried, as in une méthode essayée or une solution essayée lors des essais.

Etymology

The form derives from the verb essayer; the related noun essai means a trial or an attempt and is etymologically connected to the participle.

See also

Essayer, Essai, French grammar on past participle agreement.