apoderar

to empower

verb ah-poh-deh-RAHR Rare

Also means

to seize hold (of)

Usage Note

Apoderar on its own means to grant power of attorney or to empower someone. The far more common form is the reflexive apoderarse de — to seize, take hold of, or take over (se apoderó del miedo — fear took hold of him). In legal contexts, apoderar a alguien means to give someone a power of attorney.

Examples

"El miedo se apoderó de ella."

Natural Translation

Fear took hold of her.

Literal Translation

Fear took-hold-of of her.

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