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rémora

hindrance

noun RREH-moh-rah Rare

Origin: From Latin remora 'delay, hindrance', from re- + mora 'delay'.

Also means

remora fish

Usage Note

Rémora is both a small fish that attaches to sharks (the remora) and a figurative 'drag' or 'hindrance' that slows progress (una rémora para el desarrollo). The figurative sense is common in formal writing. Note the accent on the first syllable, making it an esdrújula (proparoxytone) word; without the accent, the stress would fall on the second syllable.

Examples

"La corrupción es una rémora para el progreso del país."

Natural Translation

Corruption is a hindrance to the country's progress.

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