inverser

Inverser is a French verb meaning to invert, reverse, flip, or swap the order of something. It is used across everyday language, mathematics and logic, computing, and linguistics to describe turning something the other way around or undoing an effect. As a regular -er verb, inverser follows standard conjugation patterns: present tense forms include j'inverse, tu inverses, il inverse, nous inversons, vous inversez, ils inversent; passé composé is j'ai inversé; imperfect is j'inversais; future is j'inverserai; conditional is j'inverserais.

In mathematics and logic, the concept of an inverse is central. An inverse operation undoes the effect of another (for example, addition and subtraction, multiplication and division). The term inverse also appears in functions, where the inverse function undoes the mapping of the original function. The noun form l'inverse or l'inversion is common in technical contexts.

In computing and data processing, inverser often refers to reversing the order of elements in a sequence, such as inverting the order of items in a list or an array. In programming, methods or functions named reverse or invert fulfill this role.

In linguistics and grammar, inversions refer to changes in the usual word order, notably subject-verb inversion used for questions or stylistic emphasis in many languages, including French in certain constructions or stylistic choices.

Common usages include inverser les rôles, inverser l’ordre des mots, inverser les chiffres d’un code, or inverser une opération pour retrouver l’état initial. Etymology traces inverser to Latin inversus “turned inside out.” See also inversion and inverse.