Usage Note
Avistar means to catch sight of something at a distance, often used in nautical, wildlife, or military contexts. It is a regular -ar verb. Unlike ver (general 'to see'), avistar implies spotting something from afar, as one might avistar la costa ('sight the coast') or avistar ballenas ('spot whales').
Examples
"Los marineros avistaron tierra al amanecer."
Natural Translation
The sailors sighted land at dawn.
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