Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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name
A river or settlement in the United States:
A river in Minnesota, a tributary of the Saint Louis River.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A river or settlement in the United States:
A river in Wisconsin, a tributary of the Wolf River.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A river or settlement in the United States:
A township in Edgar County, Illinois.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A river or settlement in the United States:
A township and unincorporated community therein, in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A river or settlement in the United States:
A village in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, located on the above river.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To disrupt someone's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: abase, abash, bring low, confuse, confound, debase, degrade, demean, depress, disconcert, discomfit, dishonour, embarrass, humble, humiliate, lower, mortify, put to shame, shame
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To perplex mentally; confuse, disconcert; catch off guard.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: formal, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: abash
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: upset, discompose, untune, disconcert, discomfit
Narrower terms: confuse, flurry, disconcert, put off
verb
hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: obstruct, blockade, block, hinder, stymie, stymy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid
Narrower terms: stonewall, filibuster, check, hang, bottleneck
History
Apparently from French embarrasser (“block, impede, obstruct”). The name was probably applied to the rivers first.
Etymology tree Akkadian 𒆟 (rakāsum) Akkadian 𒄙 (markasu)bor. Classical Syriac ܡܰܪܫܳܐ (maršā)bor. Arabic مَرَسَة (marasa)der. Old Galician-Portuguese baraço Old Galician-Portuguese embaraçarbor. Old Spanish embaraçar Spanish embarazarbor. French embarrasserbor. English embarrass Borrowed from French embarrasser, from Middle French embarrasser, embarasser (“to embarrass; to block, obstruct”), from Spanish embarazar, either from Italian imbarazzare or from Portuguese embaraçar.
Across languages
56 source translations are retained for this English entry.
