embarrass etymology

Etymology

The word "embarrass" comes from the Old French word "embarras," which means "obstacle" or "hindrance." It is thought to be derived from the Vulgar Latin word "imbarricare," which means "to barricade" or "to block up."

Meaning

Embarrass means to cause to feel ashamed, self-conscious, or humiliated, typically by making a mistake or doing something foolish or inappropriate.

Origin

The word "embarrass" first appeared in English in the 14th century. It was originally used to describe a physical obstacle or hindrance, such as a pile of rubbish or a crowd of people. By the 16th century, it had also come to be used figuratively to describe a situation that caused someone to feel ashamed or humiliated.

Examples

• The student was embarrassed when he tripped and fell in front of the class.
• The politician was embarrassed when his secret affair was revealed to the public.
• The company was embarrassed when its product was recalled due to safety concerns.

embarrass relate terms

• embarrassed

  Etymology The word embarrassed comes from the Old French word ambaras meaning obst

• embarrass

  Etymology The word embarrass comes from the Old French word embarras which means ob

• abash

  Etymology Middle English abashen from Old French esbahir from Vulgar Latin expaves

• obstruct

  Etymology The word obstruct comes from the Latin word obstruere which means to bloc

• block

  Etymology The word block has two distinct etymologies Germanic origin From Middle

• intrigue

  Etymology Late Middle English via Old French entriegue from Italian intrigo from Lati

• aggravation

  Etymology French aggraver to make worse irritate Latin aggravāre to make heavy

• perplex

  Etymology From Middle English perplexen perplexen from Old French perplexer from Lat

• confuse

  Etymology refers to the origin and development of words It traces the historical changes

• prevent

  Etymology Prevent comes from the Middle French prévenir from the Latin praevenire a

• stonewall

  Etymology The term Stonewall has its origins in the name of Thomas Stonewall Jackson

• forbid

  Etymology Old English forbeodan from Proto West Germanic farbaudan from Proto Ger