relevar

Relevar is a verb used in both Portuguese and Spanish with related senses centered on alleviating a burden, duty, or consequence. The core idea is to lift something from someone’s shoulders, whether by replacing them in a task, exempting them from an obligation, or reducing the effect of a fault or penalty. In formal or administrative language it often appears in contexts such as employment, military service, law, or governance.

Etymology and range of meanings: Relevar derives from Latin relevare, from re- “again, back” + levare “to lift up.” In both languages the word retains the notion of lifting away a burden or responsibility, with nuances that include excusing, pardoning, or mitigating a consequence, as well as substituting one person for another in a duty.

Portuguese usage: In Brazilian and European Portuguese, relevar covers several related meanings. It can mean to exempt someone from an obligation or liability, to forgive or overlook a fault (relevar uma falta), or to relieve someone from a duty or service (relevar do serviço). In legal or administrative discourse, it may also imply mitigation of a penalty or the withdrawal of a claim.

Spanish usage: In Spanish, relevar similarly means to relieve someone of a duty or responsibility (relevar a alguien de sus funciones), to exempt from liability, or to mitigate a punishment. It is common in formal, institutional, or legal contexts and is less frequent in casual speech.

Conjugation: In both languages, relevar is a regular -ar verb and follows standard conjugation patterns for that class.