afetar

Afetar is a Portuguese verb with several related meanings centered on producing an effect or impression. Its primary sense is to cause a change in someone or something or to influence outcomes, as in “a crise afetou as vendas” (the crisis affected sales) or “a notícia afetou os pacientes” (the news affected the patients emotionally). It can also mean to adopt or imitate a manner, tone, or emotional state, for example “afetar um tom grave” (to adopt a grave tone) or “afetar tristeza” (to feign sadness).

The verb can also convey the sense of feigning or pretending an emotion or symptom in some contexts, particularly in rhetoric or critical description. In these uses, the action is not a genuine inner state but an impression presented to others. The form is regular for an -ar verb in Portuguese and follows standard conjugation patterns for present, past, and compound tenses.

Etymology traces afetar to Latin affectare, through Old French affecter, with the basic idea of aiming at, touching, or having an influence toward something. It is widely understood in both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though the frequency and nuance of its senses can vary by region.

Overall, afetar covers both literal influence or impact and more figurative or performative aspects of presenting an impression, tone, or emotion to others.