provoquée

Provoquée is the feminine singular past participle of the French verb provoquer, meaning to provoke, incite, or trigger. When used in compound tenses with the auxiliary être or avoir, it agrees in gender and number with the subject or with a preceding direct object. As an adjective, provoquée describes something that has been caused or incited, or a person who has been provoked. For example, une réaction provoquée means a reaction that was provoked, and Elle a été provoquée par la remarque means she was provoked by the remark. The masculine form is provoqué; the plural forms are provoqués (masculine) and provoquées (feminine).

Etymology and usage: Provoquée derives from Old French provoquer, which itself comes from Latin provocare, meaning to call forth or summon. In modern French, provoquée appears in both formal and informal contexts, describing events, reactions, or individuals that result from an inciting cause. It can function in passive constructions or as a descriptive adjective.

Usage notes: With the auxiliary être, the participle agrees with the subject (Elle a été provoquée). With the auxiliary avoir, agreement depends on whether a preceding direct object exists (La remarque qu’elle a provoquée était surprenante). In everyday language, the adjectival sense is common when discussing effects or consequences produced by actions.

See also: provoquer, provocation, provocateur.