impedida

Impedida is the feminine singular past participle of impedir in both Spanish and Portuguese, used as an adjective to describe something or someone that is hindered, blocked, or prevented. It can refer to physical obstructions, limitations on actions, or a person who has been made unable to proceed due to external factors.

Etymology and related forms trace impeded meanings back to the Latin impedire, meaning to hinder or obstruct. The noun impedimento, and other related forms in both languages, are often used to denote an obstacle or impediment that restricts action.

Usage and context are broad. In Spanish, impedida can describe a road or route blocked by a landslide, as in “La carretera quedó impedida por la nieve,” or a person who is temporarily prevented from traveling, as in “quedó impedida de viajar.” In Portuguese, examples include “a entrada está impedida” (the entrance is blocked) or “ela ficou impedida de participar” (she was prevented from participating). In both languages, impedida tends to be used for temporary or situational hindrance rather than a permanent disability, though in some contexts it may carry a sense of incapacity.

In contemporary usage, impedida is often complemented by synonyms such as impedimento, impossibilitada, or impossibilitado, depending on nuance. Modern style guides in Spanish and Portuguese increasingly prefer terms that emphasize the specific nature of the hindrance and, when referring to disability, favor expressions that center on the person with disability (for example, “persona con discapacidad”) over generic adjectival forms.