vöötu

Vêtu is a French adjective formed as the past participle of the verb vêtir (to clothe). It is used to describe someone who is dressed or clothed, often with the preposition de to specify attire, as in il était vêtu d'un manteau noir.

Etymology and related terms: vêtu derives from Latin vestire, connected to vestis meaning garment. The related noun vêtement means clothing or attire, sharing the same root and the semantic field of covering and dress.

Grammatical forms: vêtu has gender- and number-specific forms. Masculine singular is vêtu; feminine singular is vêtue; masculine plural is vêtements, actually vêtus; feminine plural is vêtues. The verb is used with agreement to the subject in gender and number, and the spelling retains the circumflex on certain vowels (ê).

Usage and style: The expression is common in descriptive or formal prose and can convey a traditional or elevated tone. In everyday French, speakers more commonly use words like habillé or portant or the construction être vêtu followed by de + clothing item. In translation, vêtu is typically rendered as "dressed" or "garbed," preserving its sense of being clothed in specified attire.

Cultural and literary context: Vêtu frequently appears in 17th through 19th‑century French literature to evoke a vivid, status-conscious image, though it remains understood in modern writing. It can contribute a solemn or antiquated atmosphere when describing characters and settings.

See also: vêtement, vêtir, se vêtir, habillement.