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despeñar

to hurl over a cliff

verb dehs-peh-NYAHR Rare
Travel & Places Geography

Also means

to precipitate

Usage Note

Despeñar comes from des- (reversal) + peña ('rocky crag') and literally means to throw or fall headlong off a cliff. The reflexive despeñarse is used when someone or something falls over a precipice. Figuratively it can describe a rapid, catastrophic decline, similar to English 'to plunge' or 'to hurl down'.

Examples

"El coche se despeñó por el barranco."

Natural Translation

The car plunged over the ravine.

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