Getting a car ready involves carrying out a series of checks and inspections.
The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) recognizes six meanings of the term alistar . This verb can come from listo or from lista , which partly explains the differences in meaning.
Therefore, before proceeding with the definition of ready, it is worth focusing on the aforementioned concepts. Ready is defined as someone who is willing or prepared and who is clever. A list , meanwhile, can be a record or an enumeration.
Prepare as preparation
When alistar has its origin in the idea of being ready, it refers to preparing or getting something ready . In other words: when you get something ready, you arrange or prepare it so that it is in a condition to be used or to allow you to achieve a certain objective .
Let's take the case of a car. Before going on a long trip, it is essential to prepare the vehicle to minimize the risk of an accident. Preparing the car , then, consists of checking the condition and pressure of the tires, monitoring the fluid level and verifying the operation of the brakes and lights, for example.
Let us now suppose that a football team has to travel abroad to face another team. Preparing the squad , in this context, involves the development of different activities by different people who are part of the institution: it is necessary to guarantee the means of transport (plane, bus, etc.), reserve hotel rooms, gather the players' documentation, etc.
Enlisting in the army means joining its ranks.
To dress or to adorn oneself
Alistar, similarly, can be used to refer to getting ready to go out or before an event . The notion is equivalent to dressing or adorning oneself .
When getting married, it is normal for the bride and groom to spend a lot of time getting ready. Going to the hairdresser, putting on make-up and putting on each item of clothing chosen for the occasion are actions that are carried out in this context.
To prepare or to quicken
Another possibility is to use this term as a synonym for avivar or despabilar . To enliven, thus, consists of getting an individual to understand something or become aware of a situation, making him lose his inexperience or shyness .
A woman may be being cheated on by her husband without her realizing it. For her friends, however, what is happening is obvious. So, in a conversation, they propose to enlist her , listing a series of facts that prove the betrayal .
An inscription
As we indicated above, alistar can come from lista . In this sense, depending on the context , it is possible that alistar refers to inscribe .
This usage is usually linked to the armed forces . Enlistment consists of the incorporation of men and women into the institution.
Sometimes, the subject wishes to enlist voluntarily: that is, he chooses to join the ranks of his own free will. Enlistment, however, can be compulsory when it arises as an obligation established by law .
The method and requirements for enlistment vary from country to country. Some countries offer high salaries and various benefits to encourage young people to enlist.