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embroidered - 2 dictionary results

em⋅broi⋅der

[em-broi-der]
–verb (used with object)
1. to decorate with ornamental needlework.
2. to produce or form in needlework.
3. to adorn or embellish rhetorically, esp. with ornate language or fictitious details: He embroidered the account of the shipwreck to hold his listeners' interest.
–verb (used without object)
4. to do embroidery.
5. to add embellishments; exaggerate (often fol. by on or upon).

Origin:
1350–1400; em- 1 + broider; r. ME embroderen, freq. of embroden < MF embro(u)der, equiv. to em- em- 1 + OF brosder, deriv. of brosd < Gmc (see brad )


em⋅broi⋅der⋅er, noun


3. elaborate, exaggerate, color, fancify.
em·broi·der   (ěm-broi'dər)   
v.   em·broi·dered, em·broi·der·ing, em·broi·ders

v.   tr.
  1. To ornament with needlework: embroider a pillow cover.
  2. To make by means of needlework: embroider a design on a bedspread.
  3. To add embellishments or fanciful details to: embroider the truth.
v.   intr.
  1. To make needlework.
  2. To add embellishments or fanciful details.

[Middle English embrouderen, partly from embrouden (from brouden, broiden, braided, embroidered, from Old English brogden, past participle of bregdan, to weave; see braid) and partly from Old French embroder (en-, intensive pref.; see en-1 + broder, brosder, to embroider of Germanic origin).]
em·broi'der·er n.
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