Nearby Words

Embarrasses

[em-bar-uhs] Origin

em·bar·rass

[em-bar-uhs]
verb (used with object)
1.
to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert; abash: His bad table manners embarrassed her.
2.
to make difficult or intricate, as a question or problem; complicate.
3.
to put obstacles or difficulties in the way of; impede: The motion was advanced in order to embarrass the progress of the bill.
4.
to beset with financial difficulties; burden with debt: The decline in sales embarrassed the company.
verb (used without object)
5.
to become disconcerted, abashed, or confused.

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Embarrasses is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

Origin:
1665–75; < French embarrasser < Spanish embarazar < Portuguese embaraçar, equivalent to em- em-1 + -baraçar, verbal derivative of baraço, baraça cord, strap, noose (of obscure origin)

em·bar·rassed·ly [em-bar-uhst-lee, -uh-sid-lee] , adverb
em·bar·rass·ing·ly, adverb
pre·em·bar·rass, verb (used with object)
un·em·bar·rassed, adjective


1. discompose, discomfit, chagrin. See confuse. 3. hamper, hinder.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

Em·barras

[am-braw]
noun
a river in E Illinois, flowing S and SE to the Wabash River. 185 miles (298 km) long.
Also, Em·barrass.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To Embarrasses
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

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

embarras
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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