séparés

Séparés is the masculine plural form of the French adjective séparé, meaning “separated” or “split.” It also corresponds to the masculine plural of the past participle of the verb séparer. The feminine forms are séparée (singular) and séparées (plural). In usage, séparés can describe things that have been divided or people who live apart, such as spouses who are no longer living together.

Etymology: séparer comes from Latin separare, formed from se- (apart) and parare (to put, arrange). The word entered French through Old French and developed the participial form séparé, later standardized as séparé/ séparés in agreement with gender and number.

Usage and nuance: As an adjective, séparés modifies nouns to indicate separation or division, for example, “parts séparés” (separate parts). As a noun, the term can refer to a person who is living apart from a partner or family, often in the context of a legal separation or personal arrangement. In French, context determines whether séparés functions descriptively or as a nominal reference.

Translations and related terms: In English, séparés is typically translated as “separated” or “split.” Related terms include séparation (separation), séparatisme (separatism), and séparer (to separate).

See also: séparation, séparatisme, séparé, séparée.