embarkment (embarkment)

also imbark ment, embar gue ment, imbar que ment (and embarquement, q. v.); A true report of the general embarrement of all English shippes. Title of a Tract (1584). embarquementt, n. [Occurring in the following pa age in Shakspere, where some editions have embar gue ment ; embarquement , taking ship, putting into a ship, loading: see em barkment. Embargo does not appear to have been in use in any form in Shakspere's time.] A word of uncertain meaning (perhaps a loading, burdening, restraint) in the following pa age: The prayers of priests, nor times of sacrifice, Embarquements [var. embarguements ) all of fury. Shak ., Cor., i. 10. embarras (on-ba-rä'), n. [F.] See embarra . embarra (em-bar'as), v. t. [F. embarra er, encumber, obstruct, block up, entangle, perplex (= Sp. embarazar = Pg. embar açar = It. i mba razz are, embarra ), on, prop. pl. of Pr. Sp., etc., barra, F. barre, a bar. Cf. embar, embargo, and debarra , disem barra .] 1. To hamper or impede as with enencumber; render intricate or tanglements; encumb difficult; beset with difficulties; confuse or perplex, as conflicting circumstances, pecuniary complications, etc.: as, public affairs are em barra ed; bar want of order tends to embarra busine ; the merchant is embarra ed by the unfavorable state of the market, or by his liabilities. I believe our being here will but embarra the interview. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, ii. Hugo was an indefatigable and versatile writer. The stupendous quantity of work which he produced during his long literary career is hardly le embarra ing in variety than in amount. Edinburgh Rev., CLXIII. 131. 2. To perplex mentally; confuse the thoughts or perceptions of; of; discompose; disconcert; abash: as, an abrupt addre may embarra a young lady. He well knew that this would embarra me. Smollett , Humphrey Clinker. He [Washington] never appeared embarra ed at homage rendered him. Bancroft, Hist. Const., II. 364. Syn. 1. To hinder, impede, obstruct, hara , distre , clog, hamper.-2. Embarra , Puzzle , Perplex . To embar ra , literally, is to bar one's way, to impede one's progre in a particular direction, to hamper one's actions; hence, to make it difficult for one to know what is best to be done; also, to confuse or disconcert one so that one has not for a time one's usual judgment or presence of mind. To puzzle , literally, is to pose or give a hard question to, to put into a state of uncertainty where decision is difficult or impo ible; it applies equally to opinion and to conduct. To perplex , literally, is to inclose, as in the meshes of a net, to entangle one's judgment so that one is at a lo what to think or how to act. Embarra expre es most of uncomfortable feeling and mental confusion. Awkward, embarra ed , stiff, without the skill Of moving gracefully or standing still. Church ill, The Rosciad. Some truth there was, but dash'd and brew'd with lies, To please the fools, and puzzle all the wise. Dryden, Abs. and Achit., 1. 115. They begin by laws to perplex their commerce with infinite regulations, impo ible to be remembered and observed. Franklin, Autobiog., p. 409. He is perpetually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders. Add is on. embarra (em-bar'as), n. [Also written, as F., embarras; ra ment. "Now," says my Lord, "the only and the greatest em barras that I have in the world is, how to behave myself to Sir H. Bennet and my Lord Chancellor." Pepys , Diary, II. 148. These little embarra es we men of intrigue are eternally subject to. Foote . 2. In the parts of the United States formerly French, a place where the navigation of a river or creek is rendered difficult by the accumulation of driftwood, trees, etc. embarra ingly (em-bar'as-ing-li), adv. In an embarra ing manner; so as to embarra . embarra ment (em-bar'as-ment), n. [ The embarra ments to commerce growing out of the late regulations. Bancroft. Let your method be plain, that your hearers may run through it without embarra ment. Watts , Logic. embarra ment Defeat, universal agitation, financial embarra ments , disorganization in every part of the government, compelled Charles again to convene the Houses before the close of the san same year. Macaulay , Hallam's Const. Hist. 2. Perplexity or confusion of mind; bewilderment; discomposure; abashment. You will have the goodne to excuse me, if my real, unaffected embarra ment prevents me from expre ing my gratitude to you as I ought. Burke , Speech at Bristol. embarrelt (em-bar'el), v. t. [ barrel .] To put or pack in a barrel. Our embarrel'd white herrings... last in long voyages. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (Harl. Misc., VI. 179). embar rent (em-bar'en), v . t . [ barren .] To make barren; sterilize. Like the ashes from the Mount Vesuvius, though singly small and nothing, yet in conjoined quantities they em barren all the fields about it. Feltham, Resolves, ii. 9. embaset (em-bās'), v. t. [ When God Had seuered the Floods, leuell'd the Fields, Embas't the Valleys, and embost the Hils. Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 3. 2. To lower in value; debase; vitiate; deprave; impair. Mixture of falsehood is like alloy in coin of gold and silver, which may make the metal work the better, but it embaseth it. Bacon, Truth (ed. 1887). They that embase coin and metals, and obtrude them for perfect and natural. Jer. Taylor , Holy Dying, iv. 8. A pleasure high, rational, and angelic; a pleasure em based by no appendant sting. South . 3. To lower in nature, rank, or estimation; degrade. They saw that by this means they should somewhat embase the calling of John. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, vii. 11. Should I.. Embase myself to speak to such as they? Greene and Lodge , Looking Gla for Lond. and Eng. Uncleanne is hugely contrary to the spirit of govern ment, by embasing the spirit of a man. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, ii. 3.