observé

Observé is the masculine singular past participle of the French verb observer, meaning “watched” or “observed.” It functions both as a verb participle in compound tenses and as an adjective describing something that has been observed.

In verb form, observé appears in compound tenses with the auxiliary avoir, as in je ai observé, tu as observé, il a observé. When a direct object precedes the participle, the past participle agrees in gender and number with that object: par exemple, les phénomènes que j'ai observés (masc. pl.), les observations que j'ai observées (fem. pl.). If the direct object follows the participle, no agreement is used: j'ai observé les étoiles pendant la nuit.

As an adjective, observé modifies a noun and generally appears as observed or noted. It agrees in gender and number with the noun: un phénomène observé, une observation observée, des résultats observés. In its adjectival use, it conveys that something has been examined or recorded by observers or researchers.

Etymology and related forms: observé derives from the verb observer, which comes from Latin observare, meaning to watch, heed, or note. Related forms include observer (to observe), observation (observation), and observatoire (observatory), reflecting the sense of watchful attention and recorded data.

In usage, observé appears frequently in scientific, academic, and investigative writing to indicate that data, phenomena, or findings have been seen, measured, or recorded by researchers. It is distinct from similar terms like « vu » or « constaté » in nuance, with its emphasis on the act of observing.