Empeñaría

Empeñaría is the conditional form of the Spanish verb empeñar, used to express hypothetical actions. Depending on the subject, it can mean “I would pawn” or “he/she/you would pawn.” It can also appear as the 3rd person singular form or the 1st person singular form.

Etymology and senses: Empeñar means to pledge or deposit an object as security for a loan, to pledge as collateral, or more broadly to commit something as security. The term comes from older Spanish forms connected to the concept of a pledge; its ultimate origin is related to Latin impignorare, meaning to pawn or pledge.

Conjugation: Empeñar is a regular -ar verb. In the conditional mood its endings attach to the stem empeñ-: yo empeñaría, tú empeñarías, él/ella/usted empeñaría, nosotros empeñaríamos, vosotros empeñaríais, ellos empeñarían. Therefore, “empeñaría” on its own can indicate either “I would pawn” or “he/she/you would pawn,” depending on the subject.

Usage: Primary sense is to pawn or pledge an item at a pawnbroker. For example: “Si tuviera dinero, empeñaría mi reloj.” In reflexive form, empeñarse means to be determined or to insist on achieving something: “Se empeñaría en terminar el informe” (he would insist on finishing the report). Regional variations and nuances exist; empeñar is often used in financial contexts, while empeñarse conveys perseverance.

See also: empeñar, empeñarse, pignoración, garantía, prenda.