procura

Procura is a term used in Portuguese with several related meanings across language, economics, and law. As a verb form, procure is not; rather, procura is the third-person singular present indicative of procurar, meaning to seek, search for, or obtain. It appears in ordinary sentences such as “ela procura um livro” (she is searching for a book).

Etymology and related forms: Procura derives from Latin procurare, formed by pro- (forward) and cura (care). The sense evolved from “to take care of” or “to attend to” toward “to obtain or procure” and then to the broader sense of seeking.

Uses in Portuguese: In everyday language, procura covers physical searching (procura objetos) and more abstract seeking (procura soluções, procura emprego). The noun procure also appears in economic contexts as “a procura,” meaning demand or the desire of consumers for goods and services. In classifieds and job ads, the phrase “procura-se” is common and means “wanted” or “seeking [someone/something],” as in “Procura-se técnico de informática.”

International and legal notes: In Italian, procure refers to a formal authorization to act on another’s behalf; la procura is a power of attorney or mandate. While not identical across languages, the root concept of seeking or authorization is visible in related Romance-language terms.

See also: procurar, procura (economics), procura-se (classification ads).