liés

Liés is the past participle form of the French verb lier and, when used as an adjective, also the masculine plural form of the adjective meaning bound, tied, or connected. The verb lier means to tie, bind, or fasten, and its participle forms agree in gender and number with the noun they modify or with the subject in certain constructions.

As an adjective, lié forms the masculine singular (lié), feminine singular (liée), masculine plural (liés), and feminine plural (liées). Examples: des cordes liées (tied ropes), des documents liés par un contrat (documents bound by a contract), a sentence with the masculine plural liés: des liens liés, though more common is des liens créés or des liens établis depending on context.

As a participle, lié is used with auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses. With avoir, the past participle generally does not agree with the object that follows it (j'ai lié les cordes). With être or in pronominal forms, the participle agrees in gender and number with the subject (Ils se sont liés; Elles se sont liées).

Metaphorically, liés can describe non-physical connections, obligations, or relationships: être liés par une alliance, liés par le destin, or des relations liées par l’histoire. In translations, lié is often rendered as “bound,” “tied,” or “connected,” depending on nuance.

Etymology traces to Old French lier, from Latin ligare. See also lien, lié, liaison.