păta

Etymology

Probably from the Vulgar Latin root *pictāre, present active infinitive of *pictō, from Latin pictus, or the frequentative of pingō. The loss of the expected -p- in the transition from Latin -ct- to Romanian (normally -pt-) may be explained by dissimilation from the initial consonant; cf. boteza^[1], also pat. Cognate to Italian Italian pittare. Doublet of picta.

Verb

a păta (third-person singular present pătează, past participle pătat) 1st conj.

1. to stain, blot, speckle, smudge
2. to soil, taint, blemish

References