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Embarrass

//ɪmˈbæɹ.əs// name, verb

Definitions

Proper Noun

1
A river or settlement in the United States:; A river in Minnesota, a tributary of the Saint Louis River.
2
A river or settlement in the United States:; A river in Wisconsin, a tributary of the Wolf River.
3
A river or settlement in the United States:; A township in Edgar County, Illinois.
4
A river or settlement in the United States:; A township and unincorporated community therein, in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
5
A river or settlement in the United States:; A village in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, located on the above river.

Verb

1
to humiliate; to disrupt somebody's composure or comfort with acting publicly or freely; to abash. transitive
"The crowd's laughter and jeers embarrassed him."
2
cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious wordnet
3
To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct. transitive
"The motion was advanced in order to embarrass the progress of the bill."
4
hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of wordnet
5
To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to encumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands. transitive
"A man or his business is embarrassed when he cannot meet his pecuniary engagements."

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6
To perplex mentally; confuse, disconcert; catch off guard. formal, transitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

Apparently from French embarrasser (“block, impede, obstruct”). The name was probably applied to the rivers first.

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