sentar

1. to seat

placing someone in a seat

• El padre sentó al niño en la silla.The father seated the child in the chair.
• La abuela sentó a todos a la mesa.Grandma seated everyone at the table.
• El camarero sentó a los clientes junto a la ventana.The waiter seated the customers by the window.

2. to suit, to look good on sentar bien/mal a

about someone's appearance

• Ese vestido te sienta muy bien.That dress looks very good on you.
• El pelo corto le sienta bien.Short hair suits her.
• El color negro no me sienta.Black doesn't suit me.

3. to agree with sentar bien/mal a

about food and digestion

• La leche me sienta mal.Milk doesn't agree with me.
• Después de comer, el café le sentó bien.After eating, the coffee agreed with him.
• El pescado le sentó fatal y pasó la noche enfermo.The fish made him feel awful, and he was ill all night.

4. to affect, to be received sentar bien/mal a

about someone's reaction to something

• La noticia le sentó mal; se quedó callado.The news upset him; he fell silent.
• A mi jefe no le sentó bien mi comentario.My boss didn't take my comment well.
• El cambio les sentó bien a todos.The change suited everyone.

5. to lay, to establish

establishing a basis or precedent

• El acuerdo sentó las bases de la paz.The agreement laid the foundations for peace.
• La ley sentó un precedente importante.The law set an important precedent.
• El informe sentó las bases para el plan.The report laid the foundations for the plan.

6. to record, to enter en

in a written record

• El secretario sentó el acuerdo en el acta.The secretary recorded the agreement in the minutes.
• El contable sentó los gastos en el libro.The accountant entered the expenses in the ledger.
• La fecha quedó sentada en el registro.The date was recorded in the register.