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insidiare

to threaten, to lay a trap for

verb een-see-DYAH-reh Rare
People & Society Crime

Origin: Latin insidiari (to lie in ambush)

Also means

to endanger

Usage Note

Insidiare implies a hidden or treacherous threat — laying snares or scheming against someone: insidiare la pace ('to threaten peace'), insidiare una donna ('to pursue a woman with ill intent'). From Latin insidiae ('ambush, snare'). It takes avere as its auxiliary and follows regular -are conjugation. The noun form is insidia ('snare, pitfall'), which is quite common.

Examples

"Il predatore insidiava le prede nascondendosi tra i cespugli."

Natural Translation

The predator lay in wait for prey by hiding among the bushes.

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