sujetar

Sujetar is a Spanish verb with senses focused on restraining, fastening, or bringing something under control. At its core, it means to hold or secure an object so that it cannot move, or to keep a person or animal from escaping. It can also mean to subject something or someone to rules, conditions, or authority, i.e., to bring under control or influence.

As a transitive verb, sujetar is used with a direct object. Physical uses include sujetar una puerta con una cerradura, sujetar una carga para evitar que se mueva, or sujetar a alguien a una prueba. In legal or administrative language it can mean to subject a person to a process or to bring something under a jurisdiction or regime.

When used reflexively, sujetarse expresses submission or restraint: se sujeta a las normas, o se sujetó a las normas. The reflexive form can also denote personal restraint, such as atarse a instrucciones or atarse el cinturón in a transportation context.

Etymology and related terms: the verb derives from Latin subicere “to bring under, subject,” via Old Spanish into modern suetar/sujetar. Related terms in Spanish include sujeción (the act of restraining) and sujeto (subject), while English cognates include subject and subjugate (subjugar).