Detêner

Detêner is a Portuguese verb with a primary meaning of to stop or to detain. It is derived from the Latin verb "detinere," which also carries the sense of holding back or keeping. In its most common usage, detêner refers to the act of physically preventing someone or something from moving. This can be seen in phrases like "detêner o carro" (to stop the car) or "detêner um suspeito" (to detain a suspect).

Beyond its literal meaning of stopping, detêner can also imply a sense of hindering or obstructing progress. For instance, one might say "a falta de fundos detêve o projeto" (the lack of funds stopped the project). In a legal context, detêner is often used to describe the act of arrest or apprehension by authorities.

The verb conjugates like a regular -er verb in Portuguese, with variations in tense and mood reflecting the action's temporal or conditional aspect. Common conjugations include "detenho" (I stop/detain), "detém" (he/she/it stops/detains), and "detiveram" (they stopped/detained). The past participle is "detido," meaning stopped or detained. The word "detenção" is the noun form, referring to the state of being detained or the act of detention.