alinharse

Alinhar-se is a Portuguese verb that means to align oneself, either literally by forming a line or metaphorically by adopting a position, stance, or affiliation with a person, group, or set of principles. The non-reflexive form alinhar can denote the action of placing objects in a line or bringing them into conformity with a standard.

Etymology and related terms: alinhar derives from linha, meaning line, which in turn comes from Latin linea. The noun form alinhamento denotes the act or result of alignment. A closely related verb in other Romance languages is alin e ar/alinearse in Spanish, which lacks the Portuguese reflexive h and has a similar meaning.

Usage and examples: Physically, alinhar is used to describe arranging people or objects in a line, as in soldados alinharam-se no pátio (the soldiers lined up in the courtyard). Metaphorically, it is used to express agreement or conformity with a position, policy, or group, for example, a empresa alinhou-se aos padrões de compliance or o parlamentar alinhou-se com a linha do partido. The reflexive form emphasizes the subject’s active involvement in forming alignment, as in alinhar-se com os princípios da organização.

Grammatical notes: alinhar-se is a regular -ar verb and follows standard Portuguese conjugation patterns, with the reflexive pronoun se used for the reflexive form. Common construction patterns include alinhar-se com, alinhar-se aos princípios, and alinhar peças in mechanical contexts. In closely related Spanish, the cognate is alinearse, which serves a similar purpose but without the Portuguese orthography.