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empañar

to fog up, to tarnish

verb em-pah-NYAHR Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Also means

to undermine, to mar

Usage Note

Empañar literally means to cause a surface (glass, mirror) to mist over or become cloudy. Figuratively it means to cloud or tarnish a reputation, achievement, or moment — empañar la victoria (to mar the victory). The reflexive empañarse describes the surface itself fogging: el espejo se empañó con el vapor (the mirror steamed up). Do not confuse with empanar (to coat in breadcrumbs).

Examples

"El vapor empañó el espejo del baño."

Natural Translation

The steam fogged up the bathroom mirror.

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