vaincu

Vaincu is a French term that functions as both an adjective and the past participle of the verb vaincre (to defeat). It describes someone or something that has been defeated or vanquished, whether in war, sport, or a contest. As a noun, vaincu (masculine) or vaincue (feminine) can designate a defeated person.

Etymology and forms: Vaincu derives from Old French vaincre, itself from Latin vincere. The participle agrees with gender and number when used as an adjective: masculine singular vaincu, feminine singular vaincue; masculine plural vaincus; feminine plural vaincues. The word retains its core sense of defeat in most contemporary uses.

Usage: Vaincu is common in historical and literary contexts as well as in discussions of competition or conflict. It can describe a person, army, or group that has been overcome. Examples include: “Après la bataille, l’armée est vaincue,” or “Les vaincus acceptèrent les termes de l’armistice.” In everyday language, the noun form un vaincu is less frequent but understood to mean a defeated individual.

Relation to related terms: The opposite of vaincu is vainqueur (winner or conqueror). The verb vaincre, the root of vaincu, is widely used in various tenses and constructions to express defeating or overcoming.

See also: vaincre, vainqueur, vanquish (English cognate).