dûment
duly
Definition & meaning
The French word dûment is an adverb that translates to "duly," "properly," or "formally" in English. It is used to describe an action that is performed in accordance with what is required, expected, or legally necessary.
It is often found in administrative, legal, or formal contexts to indicate that all necessary conditions or formalities have been satisfied. For example, a document that is "dûment signé" is one that has been properly signed by the authorized person.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar: As an adverb, dûment is invariable and usually follows the verb it modifies or the past participle in compound tenses.
Word origin: The word is derived from the adjective dû, which is the past participle of the verb devoir (to owe or to have to). It follows the standard French pattern of creating adverbs by adding the suffix -ment to the feminine form of an adjective. However, since "dû" ends in a vowel, the suffix is added directly.
Note on spelling: The circumflex accent on the "u" (û) is retained from the masculine singular form of the adjective "dû" to distinguish it from other words, though under the 1990 orthographic rectifications, the spelling "dument" is also accepted.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- correctement (correctly)
- convenablement (suitably/properly)
- régulièrement (regularly/in accordance with rules)
- formellement (formally)
- valablement (validly)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Avez-vous dûment complété le formulaire hier ?adverb
Did you duly complete the form yesterday?
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