envolver

Envolver is a Portuguese verb with senses centered on enclosing, wrapping, or surrounding, as well as on including or implicating someone or something. In its physical use, it means to cover or wrap an object or person. In its figurative use, it can mean to involve, to include as part of a whole, or to envelop atmospherically, as in a mist or darkness surrounding a scene.

Etymology: Envolver comes from Latin involvere, meaning to wrap around, with the prefix en- forming a causative or intensifying sense. It has cognates in other Iberian languages, such as Spanish envolver, and is related to English involve through the same Latin root.

Usage and constructions: As a transitive verb, it typically takes a direct object for the physical sense (envolver o corpo com uma manta). For abstract senses, it takes objects like a project, a plan, or a situation (o projeto envolve várias etapas; ele se envolve em uma polêmica). The verb can also be used in a reflexive form, envolver-se, to indicate becoming involved in something (ela se envolveu em um debate). The preposition com or em may appear depending on the sense (envolvido com/em).

Conjugation: Envolver is a regular-leaning verb with notable present tense forms: eu envolvo, tu envolves, ele envolve, nós envolvemos, vós envolveis, eles envolvem. Its past tenses include envolvi, envolveste, envolveu, envolvemos, envolvestes, envolveram; the imperfect is envolvia, envolvias, envolvia, envolvíamos, envolvíeis, envolviam. The noun envolvimento (involvement) is often used to name the concept.