aceitar

Aceitar is a Portuguese verb that means to receive or take something, to consent or agree to a proposal, or to acknowledge a fact. It is used transitively with a direct object, as in aceitar uma oferta (to accept an offer) or aceitar um convite (to accept an invitation). It also appears in phrases that express attitude, such as aceitar bem/mal (to take well or badly), and in formal contexts, for example aceitar condições or aceitar termos de uso.

Etymology and related forms: Aceitar derives from Latin acceptare, which means to take toward oneself or to receive, itself related to accipere (to take). The word entered Portuguese through the Romance tradition and evolved into the modern verb ace- with typical -ar verb conjugation. Its past participle is aceito, and the gerund is aceitando. Adjectival forms include aceitável (acceptable) and aceitar as a common counterpart to synonyms such as concordar and admitir.

Conjugation and grammar: Aceitar is a regular -ar verb. Present indicative forms include eu aceito, tu aceitas, ele aceita, nós aceitamos, vós aceitais, eles aceitam. The pretérito perfeito (simple past) forms include eu aceitei, tu aceitaste, ele aceitou, nós aceitamos, vós aceitastes, eles aceitaram. Subjunctive present forms are: que eu aceite, que tu aceites, que ele aceite, que nós aceitemos, que vós aceiteis, que eles aceitem. The past participle is aceito, and the gerund is aceitando.

Usage notes: Aceitar can take a direct object (aceitar algo), or be used with complements of meaning such as aceitar ideias, aceitar responsabilidades, or aceitar que + clause (aceitar que ele venha). It is also used in digital contexts to mean agreeing to terms or cookies (aceitar cookies). Overall, it covers a broad range of meanings from simple reception to consent and acknowledgment.