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salpare

to set sail

verb sahl-PAH-reh Rare

Usage Note

Salpare primarily means to weigh anchor and set sail. In its intransitive 'set sail' sense it takes essere (la nave è salpata); used transitively (salpare l'ancora, to weigh anchor) it takes avere. It applies both literally and figuratively to any grand departure.

Examples

"La nave salpa all'alba."

Natural Translation

The ship sets sail at dawn.

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