alentar

Portuguese

Etymology

From alento (“courage; breath”).

Verb

1. to encourage

---

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /alenˈtaɾ/ [a.lẽn̪ˈt̪aɾ]

Etymology 1

From Vulgar Latin *alenitō, *alenitāre, contracted and following metathesis from *anhelitō, from Latin anhelitus < anhelō (“I exhale”).

Verb

1. to encourage, animate, inspirit

   Antonym: desalentar

Derived terms

• alentador
• desalentar

Related terms

• aliento

Etymology 2

From a- +‎ lento (“slow”) +‎ -ar.

Verb

1. (Latin America) to slow down, become slow

   Synonym: desacelerar

   Antonym: acelerar

2. (Mexico, reflexive) to become or behave as a shy, shameful or fearful person

   Synonym: amensarse

Related terms

• alentarse

Further reading

• “alentar”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014