liä

lié is the past participle of the French verb lier (to bind, to tie) and also an adjective meaning “bound” or “connected.” The feminine form is liée, and the masculine plural and feminine plural are liés and liées, respectively. The word derives from Latin ligare, and has cognate forms in various Romance languages.

As a past participle, lié is used in compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir, as in il a lié les cordes (he tied the ropes). When the direct object precedes the participle, the participle agrees in gender and number: les cordes qu’il a liées. In reflexive constructions such as se lier, the auxiliary is être, and the participle agrees with the subject: elle s’est liée d’amitié (she bonded with friends).

As an adjective, lié describes something that is physically tied, figuratively connected, or closely associated. Common expressions include lié à, meaning “connected to” or “bound to,” as in les résultats liés à une méthode ou à un biais. Phrases like être lié par le sang (to be related by blood) or liés par des liens familiaux illustrate its use to express relationships or dependencies.

Related terms include lier (to bind) and liaison (a link or connection). While related in meaning, liaison is a noun, whereas lié functions as a past participle or an adjective. In usage, différent contextes—physical binding, personal relationships, or causal connections—determine whether lié conveys a concrete or metaphorical sense.