propinar

to deal (a blow)

verb proh-pee-NAHR Rare

Usage Note

Propinar is nearly always used with words for blows, slaps, or insults: propinar una paliza (to give a beating), propinar un golpe (to land a blow). It carries a sense of delivering something unpleasant forcefully and sounds formal or literary rather than everyday. Do not confuse it with proponer (to propose).

Examples

"El boxeador le propinó un golpe directo."

Natural Translation

The boxer dealt him a direct blow.

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