encarnar

to embody

to play

encarnar(ehn-kahr-nahr)

transitive verb

1. (to epitomize)

a. to embody

Las instituciones como esta encarnan lo mejor y lo peor de este país.

Institutions like this one embody the best and the worst of this country.

Muchas personas piensan que Papá Noel encarna el espíritu navideño.

Many people believe Santa Claus embodies the Christmas spirit.

b. to personify

Don Quijote encarna el idealismo, mientras que Sancho encarna el realismo.

Don Quixote personifies idealism, whereas Sancho personifies realism.

2. (to perform the role of)

a. to play

El joven actor encarnará a un temible gánster en su próxima película.

The young actor will play a fearsome gangster in his next movie.

3. (to put bait on)

a. to bait

Utilizamos lombrices para encarnar el anzuelo.

We used worms to bait the hook.

intransitive verb

4. (to form a scar)

a. to heal

Es una herida menor. Encarnará en un par de días.

It's a minor wound. It will heal in a couple of days.

encarnarse

pronominal verb

5. (to materialize as; used with "en")

a. to take the form of

Cuenta la leyenda que, al morir, su espíritu se encarnó en un pájaro.

According to the legend, his spirit took the form of a bird on his death.

6. (religious)

a. to become incarnate

La Biblia nos dice que Dios se encarnó en Cristo para redimirnos.

The Bible tells us that God became incarnate in Christ to redeem us.

b. to become flesh

Cito: "Y la Palabra se encarnó y habitó entre nosotros".

I quote, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

7. (to grow into the flesh)

a. to become ingrown

Se me encarnó una uña de la mano.

One of my fingernails became ingrown.