embarrass

embarrass
embarrass (v.) 1670s, "perplex, throw into doubt," from Fr. embarrasser (16c.), lit. "to block," from embarras "obstacle," from It. imbarrazzo, from imbarrare "to bar," from in- "into, upon" (see IN- (Cf. in-) (2)) + V.L. *barra "bar." Meaning "hamper, hinder" is from 1680s. Meaning "make (someone) feel awkward" first recorded 1828. Original sense preserved in embarras de richesse (1751), from French (1726): the condition of having more wealth than one knows what to do with. Related: Embarrassing; embarrassingly.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Embarrass — ist der Name mehrerer Orte in den Vereinigten Staaten: Embarrass (Illinois) Embarrass (Minnesota) Embarrass (Wisconsin) Embarrass Township (Illinois) Embarrass Township (Minnesota) Fluss: Embarrass River (Minnesota) Embarrass River (Wisconsin) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Embarrass — may refer to:* Embarrass, Wisconsin, United States * Embarrass Township, Edgar County, Illinois, United States * Embarrass Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota, United Statesee also* Embarras * Embarrass River * Embarrassment …   Wikipedia

  • embarrass — embarrass, discomfit, abash, disconcert, rattle, faze mean to balk by confusing or confounding, but each word is capable of expressing precise and distinctive shades of meaning. Embarrass characteristically implies some influence which impedes… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Embarrass — Em*bar rass ([e^]m*b[a^]r ras), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Embarrassed} ([e^]m*b[a^]r rast); p. pr. & vb. n. {Embarrassing}.] [F. embarrasser (cf. Sp. embarazar, Pg. embara[,c]ar, Pr. barras bar); pref. em (L. in) + LL. barra bar. See {Bar}.] 1. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Embarrass — Embarrass, WI U.S. village in Wisconsin Population (2000): 399 Housing Units (2000): 164 Land area (2000): 1.203737 sq. miles (3.117664 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.003955 sq. miles (0.010243 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.207692 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Embarrass, WI — U.S. village in Wisconsin Population (2000): 399 Housing Units (2000): 164 Land area (2000): 1.203737 sq. miles (3.117664 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.003955 sq. miles (0.010243 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.207692 sq. miles (3.127907 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Embarrass — Em*bar rass, n. [F. embarras. See {Embarrass}, v. t.] Embarrassment. [Obs.] Bp. Warburton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • embarrass — [em bar′əs, imbar′əs] vt. [Fr embarrasser, lit., to encumber, obstruct < Sp embarazar < It imbarrazzare < imbarrare, to bar, impede < in (L in ) + ML barra, BAR1] 1. to cause to feel self conscious, confused, and ill at ease;… …   English World dictionary

  • embarrass — I verb abash, annoy, baffle, bedevil, beset, bewilder, bother, burden, cause confusion, cause discomfort, cause to feel ill at ease, chagrin, confuse, conturbare, discomfit, discomfort, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb,… …   Law dictionary

  • embarrass — embarrass, embarrassment are spelt with two rs and two s s …   Modern English usage

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