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claudicar

to give up

verb klah-oo-dee-KAHR Rare

Origin: Latin claudicare (to limp), from claudus (lame)

Also means

to capitulate

Usage Note

Claudicar originally meant 'to limp' but in modern Spanish it means 'to yield' or 'to give up one's principles under pressure'. It is slightly formal and often appears in the negative (no claudicó ante las amenazas, 'he did not give in to threats'). The literal 'limp' sense is now archaic.

Examples

"El equipo no claudicó y ganó el partido."

Natural Translation

The team did not give up and won the match.

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