Arrastrar

Arrastrar is a Spanish verb of the first conjugation, used primarily to describe moving an object by pulling it along a surface. It also has figurative uses, meaning to prolong or carry something forward, such as a consequence or a problem.

In everyday use, it can indicate physical dragging (arrastrar una caja por el suelo), walking with dragging feet (arrastrar los pies), or dragging someone into a situation (arrastrar a alguien a un compromiso). In computing, it appears in the expression drag and drop, expressed in Spanish as arrastrar y soltar for drag-and-drop interfaces.

Conjugation: Regular -ar verb. Present: arrastro, arrastas, arrastra, arrastramos, arrastráis, arrastran. Preterite: arrastré, arrastraste, arrastró, arrastramos, arrastrasteis, arrastraron. Imperfect: arrastraba, arrastrabas, arrastraba, arrastrábamos, arrastrabais, arrastraban. Subjunctive present: arrastre, arrastres, arrastre, arrastremos, arrastréis, arrastren. The reflexive form arrastrarse means to crawl, to grovel, or to move slowly.

Etymology: from Latin adtrahāre, formed by prefix ad- (toward) and trahere (to draw), transmitted through Old Spanish as arrastrar.

See also: arrastre (dragging); arrastramiento. Common figurative uses include arrastrar deudas (to carry debts) and arrastrar consecuencias (to carry consequences), reflecting the sense of prolonging or importing effects over time.