dotar

Dotar is a Spanish verb meaning to equip, provide, endow, or furnish with resources or necessary means. It is commonly used in contexts such as government programs, organizations, or institutions that supply funds, equipment, or capabilities. For example, a government may dotar a las escuelas de computadoras, meaning it furnishes schools with computers.

Etymology and usage notes: Dotar comes from the noun dote and the related concept of a dowry or endowment, with older sense components tied to provision and furnishing. The verb is typically used with de to indicate what is being provided (dotar de recursos, dotar de tecnología) and can appear in formal or administrative language. Related terms include dotación (provision or endowment) and dotante (provider, endower) in extended legal or bureaucratic registers.

Other uses: In addition to its common verbal sense, dotar may appear as a proper noun in some cases, functioning as a surname or as part of place names in Spanish-speaking regions. In such uses, it is unrelated to the verb’s meanings and depends on local naming conventions.

See also: dotación, dote, dotante, dotación de recursos, dotar de tecnología.