English Meaning & Definitions
To put handcuffs on someone; to handcuff or restrain with manacles.
- “A polícia conseguiu prender e esposar o criminoso.”
- “O policial foi obrigado a esposar o suspeito que resistia à prisão.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “esposar”.
Derived from the Late Latin *sponsare* (to betroth, to promise in marriage), from classical Latin *sponsus* (betrothed, bridegroom), past participle of *spondere* (to promise solemnly). In Portuguese, the verb historically meant to marry or betroth, but through semantic shift and homonymy with cuffs/shackles (derived from *esposa* or related Germanic roots connected to wrists), it came to mean putting handcuffs on someone in modern usage.
Think of 'spouse' (esposo/esposa in Spanish/Portuguese) — historically, esposar meant to take a spouse, but now it metaphorically ties someone down with handcuffs.
Frequently Asked Questions About “esposar”
1. What is the meaning of “esposar” in English?
In English, esposar (verb) is defined as: “To put handcuffs on someone; to handcuff or restrain with manacles.”.
2. How do you use “esposar” in a sentence?
“A polícia conseguiu prender e esposar o criminoso.”
3. What are English synonyms of “esposar”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “esposar”?
Derived from the Late Latin *sponsare* (to betroth, to promise in marriage), from classical Latin *sponsus* (betrothed, bridegroom), past participle of *spondere* (to promise solemnly). In Portuguese, the verb historically meant to marry or betroth, but through semantic shift and homonymy with cuffs/shackles (derived from *esposa* or related Germanic roots connected to wrists), it came to mean putting handcuffs on someone in modern usage.
🇵🇹More Portuguese Words to English
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