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incatenare

to chain up, to shackle

verb een-kah-teh-NAH-reh Rare

Also means

to tie down, to bind

Usage Note

Incatenare literally means to fasten with chains (catene): incatenare un cane ('to chain up a dog'). Figuratively it means to bind or hold someone captive: incatenato dalla paura ('chained by fear'). The reflexive incatenarsi is used for protest actions — activists si incatenano to gates or railings. Conjugates with avere in compound tenses.

Examples

"I manifestanti si sono incatenati al cancello."

Natural Translation

The protesters chained themselves to the gate.

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