alentar

Meaning

1. (transitive) to encourage, animate
2. (reflexive) to gather up one's courage

Concepts

encourage

hearten

comfort

inspire

cheer

strengthen

console

enhearten

foster

inspirit

lift

spirit

abet

breathe

enforce

exercise

train

consolidate

harden

take care of

solace

soothe

embolden

recreate

spur

inhale

urge

exhort

incite

stimulate

buoy up

enliven

Hyphenated as

a‧len‧tar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/alenˈtaɾ/

Etymology

Inherited from Vulgar Latin *alēnitare < *an(h)ēlitāre, derived from Latin anhēlitus (“breath”).
The diphthongization in rhizotonic conjugations (yo aliento) is etymologically unexpected, considering the Latin /ē/, but may have to do with analogy with other verbs ending in -entar, such as sentar. In that case, the diphtongization in Asturian alendar would perhaps be due to Castilian influence.