Word Origin & History
embarrass1670s, "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),
from French (1726), the condition of having more wealth than one knows what to do with. Related: Embarrassing.
embarrassed"perplexed, confused," 1680s, from
embarrass.