ceñí

Ceñí is the first-person singular form of the Spanish verb ceñir in the preterite indicative. The verb ceñir means to gird, bind, or encircle, typically describing something tightened around a body part or a boundary. Ceñir is used in formal or literary contexts, and its sense can range from physically constricting to metaphorically limiting or bracketing.

Etymology and usage. Ceñir derives from Latin roots related to cinctus or cingere, words associated with binding or encircling. In modern Spanish, ceñir is a transitive verb and appears in past-tense narrative to indicate a completed action. The preterite form ceñí signals that the tightening or surrounding occurred in the past.

Conjugation notes. The preterite forms of ceñir include yo ceñí, tú ceñiste, él/ella/usted ceñó, nosotros ceñimos, vosotros ceñisteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes ceñeron. The accent on the í in ceñí helps preserve the verb’s stress pattern in the past tense.

Example. Ayer ceñí la cintura con un cinturón.

See also. Ceñir, girding, belt.

This article provides a concise overview of ceñí as a grammatical form rather than a standalone lexical entry, focusing on its role within the verb ceñir and its typical past-tense usage in Spanish.