pretendido

Pretendido is a cognate in Spanish and Portuguese formed from the verb pretender. In both languages it functions as an adjective meaning that something is intended, desired, or sought. The form agrees with gender and number (pretendido/pretendida in Spanish and Portuguese). In formal or technical contexts it can also indicate something that is claimed or referred to by someone, though this sense is less common than the simple idea of intention or goal.

Etymology: pretender originates from Latin praetendere, meaning to put forward or to extend before. Through the Romance languages this evolved into the sense of aiming or seeking, which gives rise to the adjective pretendido in contemporary usage.

Spanish usage: pretendido commonly precedes nouns to mark an aim or objective, for example, “objetivo pretendido” (the intended objective) or “resultado pretendido.” It is also used with terms like “candidato pretendido” to denote the person desired or sought in a process. In everyday speech, it conveys a neutral sense of what is aimed for, rather than any imposture or deception.

Portuguese usage: in Portuguese, pretendido serves similarly to describe what is desired or sought, as in “resultado pretendido” or “candidato pretendido.” It can refer to objects, results, or people that are the target of a plan, proposal, or aspiration, e.g., “o pretendido pela empresa.”

Translations and nuance: common translations are intended, desired, or sought-after. The exact nuance depends on context; in many cases pretendido simply marks the goal or target rather than judging its feasibility.