cousu

Word: cousu

Language: French

Part of speech: Adjective, past participle of the verb coudre (to sew)

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Meaning:

1. Past participle form:

   • From the verb coudre, cousu means "sewn" or "stitched."
   • Example: un pantalon cousu = "a sewn pair of pants."

2. Adjective meaning:

   • Describes something that is sewn up or closed by sewing.
   • Can refer literally to clothing, fabric, or materials put together by stitches.

3. Figurative use (idiomatic):

   • The phrase tenir la route comme un cousu main ("as if sewn by hand") can imply something is well-made or carefully crafted.
   • Cousu de fil blanc (literally "sewn with white thread") is used idiomatically in French to describe something that is obvious or on the face of it, such as an excuse or a plan that is transparent or easy to see through.

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Parts:

• Root verb: coudre = "to sew."
• cousu = past participle masculine singular; feminine form: cousue, plural masculine: cousus, feminine plural: cousues.

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Synonyms:

• Sewn / stitched: brodé (embroidered, but also "decorated with stitches"), piqué (quilted or starred with stitches in detail).
• Well-crafted / hand-made: manuel, fait main.
• For the idiomatic expression cousu de fil blanc (something obvious), synonyms can be: évident, clair, manifeste.

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Antonyms:

• Unstitched / undone: décousu (unstiched or falling apart), ouvert (open).
• For something not well-made: bâclé (botched), mal fait (badly made).

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Summary:

Cousu primarily refers to the act of being sewn or stitched. It functions as a past participle or adjective. In addition to the literal sense, it is used in common French expressions to convey something that is obvious or carefully handcrafted.