embarrassment 
Defeat, universal agitation, financial embarrassments, 
disorganization in every part of the government, com- 
pelled Charles again to convene the Houses before the 
close of the same year. Macaulay, Hallam's Const. Hist. 
2. Perplexity or confusion of mind; bewilder- 
ment ; discomposure ; abashment. 
You will have the goodness to excuse me, if my real, 
unaffected embarrassment prevents me from expressing 
my gratitude to you as I ought. Burke, Speech at Bristol. 
embarrelt (em-bar'el), v. t. [< em- 1 + barrel.] 
To put or pack in a ban-el. 
Our embarreCd white herrings . . . last in long voy- 
ages, fiashe, Lenten Stuffe (Harl. Misc., VI. 179). 
embarrent (em-bar'en), v. t. [< em- 1 + 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. FeUham, Resolves, ii. 9. 
embaset (em-bas'), * [< ME - enbaissen, < 
OF. embuisser, embesser, lower, abase, < en- + 
bos, low, base: see lose 1 . Cf. abase.] 1. To 
lower; degrade; depress or hollow out. 
When God . . . 
Had seuered the Floods, leuell'd the Fields, 
Embai't the Valleys, and embost the Hils. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, i. 3. 
2. To lower in value; debase; vitiate; de- 
prave; 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 embage 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- 
bated by no appendant sting. Smith. 
3. To lower in nature, rank, or estimation; 
degrade. 
They saw that by this means they should somewhat 
i ni/iiixf the calling of John. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, vii. 11. 
Should I ... 
Embase myself to speak to such as they ? 
Greene and Lodge, Looking Glass for Lond. and Eng. 
Uncleanness is hugely contrary to the spirit of govern- 
ment, by embusing the spirit of a man. 
Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, ii. 3. 
embasement 1 1 (em-bas'ment), n. [< embase + 
-merit.'] The act of embasing, or the state of 
being embased; a vitiated, impaired, or de- 
based condition ; depravation ; debasement. 
There is dross, alloy, and embasement in all human 
tempers. Sir T. Browne, Christ. Mor., i 28. 
embasement 2 (em-bas'ment), n. [< "embase, 
verb assumed from emba'sis, + -ment.] Same 
as embasis. 
embasiatet (em-bas'i-at), n. [An obs. form of 
embassade. ] Embassy. 
But when the Erie of Warwik understode of this mar- 
riage, he tooke it highly that his embasiate was deluded. 
Sir T. More, Works, p. 90. 
embasis (em'ba-sis), re. [LL., < Gr. eft/Jaaif, a 
bathing-tub, a foot, hoof, step, a going into, < 
ififiaivEiv, go into, < iv, in, + flaivetv, go.] In 
med., a bathing-tub, or vessel filled with warm 
water for bathing. Also called embasement. 
[Rare or obsolete.] 
embassadet, ambassadet (em'-, am'ba-sad), n. 
[Early mod. E. also ambassad, ambassed, etc. 
(and see embasiate, ambassiate), < late ME. am- 
bassade, ambasstade, ambaxade = D. G. Dan. 
ambassade = Sw. ambassad, < OF. ambassade, 
also ambaxade, ambayade, and embassade, F. 
ambassade, < OSp. ambaxada, mod. Sp. emba- 
jada = Pg. embaixada = It. ambasciata = Pr. 
ambaissat, ambaissada = OF. ambassee, ambaxee, 
embaseee (> E. ambassy, embassy, which are re- 
lated to ambassade, embassade, as army 2 to 
armada: see ambassy, embassy), < ML. *am- 
baetiata, spelled variously ambaxiata, ambaxata, 
ambasciata, ambassiata, etc., an embassade, em- 
bassy, prop. pp. fern, of "ambactiare, ambaxiare, 
ambasciare, ambassiare, etc., go on a mission, 
announce, < "ambactia, ambaxia, ambascia, am- 
bassia (> OF. ambasse), a mission, embassy, 
charge, office, < L. ambactiis, cited by Festus 
from Ennius as a Gallic word meaning 'servant' 
(servus), and applied by Csesar to the vassals 
or retainers (ambactos clientesque) of the Gallic 
chiefs ; identified by Zeuss with W. amaeth (for 
'ambaeth, orig. type *ambact), a husbandman, 
orig. perhaps a tenant, retainer, or a footman, 
goer about, < W. am, formerly amb- (= L. amb-, 
ambi-, q. v.), around, about, + aefh (pret.), he 
went. With the L. ambactiis is connected an 
important Teut. word, AS. ambeht, embeht, om- 
biht, onbekt (rare and poet.), a servant, atten- 
dant, = OS. *ambaht, ambahteo = OHG. ambaht, 
ampaht, m., = Icel. ambott, ambdtt (> ME. am- 
boht), fern., = Goth, andbahts, m., a servant; a 
word common in later Teut. only in the deriv. 
1888 
AS. ambeht, ambieht, ambiht, ambyht, ombeht,on- 
beM (in earliest form ambaect), in comp. also an- 
byht = ONorth. embeht, service, office, = OS. 
ambaht (in comp.) = OFries. ombecht, ombeht, 
ambocht, ambucht, ombet, ambet, ambt, ampt, ami, 
service, office, jurisdiction, bailiwick, = OD. 
ambaclit, service, office, charge, mod. D. am- 
bacht, trade, handicraft, = OHG. ambahti, am- 
baht, MHG. ambet, ammet, G. amt, service, of- 
fice, charge, magistracy, jurisdiction, district, 
business, concern, corporation, divine service, 
mass, etc. (> Dan. Sw. amt, jurisdiction, dis- 
trict: see amt, amtman, amman), = Icel. em- 
b(Etti, service, office, divine service, = Sw. 
embete, office, place, corporation, = Dan. em- 
bede, office, place, = Goth, andbahti, service; 
whence the verb, AS. (ONorth.) embehtian = 
Icel. embcetta = Goth, andbahtjan, serve. The 
Teut. word has been taken as the source of the 
L., but the case is prob. the other way, Goth. 
and-b- standing for L. amb-, which combination 
does not occur in Goth., while and-b- is com- 
mon; AS. amb-, omb-, for L. amb-, or accom. 
an-b-, on-b-, the reg. reduction of AS. "and-b-, 
which is never reduced to amb-, omb-, in native 
words (cf. amber 1 ).] Same as embassy. 
But when her words embassade forth she sends, 
Lord, how sweete musicke that unto them lends ! 
Spenser, In Honour of Beautie. 
embassador, n. See ambassador. 
This Luys hath written 3. large bookes in Spanish col- 
lected ... out of Don luan de Baltasar, an Ethiopian of 
great accompt, who had beene Ambassador from his Mas- 
ter Alexander. Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 666. 
embassadorial (em-bas-a-do'ri-al), a. See am- 
bassadorial. 
ambassadress (em-bas'a-dres), n. See ambas- 
sadress. 
With fear the modest matron lifts her eyes, 
And to the bright einbassadress replies. 
Garth, tr. of Ovid's Metamorph., xiv. 
embassage (em'ba-saj), n. [Formerly also am- 
bassage; another form, with suffix -age, of em- 
bassade or embassy, q. v.] 1. The business or 
mission of an ambassador; embassy. [Bare.] 
Carueades the philosopher came in embassage to Rome. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 14. 
Honour persuaded him [Edward IV.] that it stood him 
much upon to make good the Embassage in which he had 
sent the Earl of Warwick, to a great Prince. 
Baker, Chronicles, p. 205. 
There he [Elder Brewster] served Mr. Davison, a godly 
gentleman, and secretary of state to Queen Elizabeth, and 
attended him on his embassage into Holland. 
If. Morton, New England's Memorial, p. 221. 
2f. The commission or charge of a messenger; 
a message. 
And ever and anone, when none was ware, 
With speaking lookes, that close embassage bore, 
He rov'd at her. Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 28. 
Doth not thy embassage belong to me ; 
And am I last to know it? 
Snak., Rich. II., iii. 4. 
embassy (em'ba-si), n. ; pi. embassies (-siz). 
[Formerly also ambassy; a var. of embassade, 
ambassade.] 1. The public function or mission 
of an ambassador; the charge or employment 
of a public minister, whether ambassador or en- 
voy ; hence, an important mission of any kind : 
as, he was qualified for the embassy. 2. A mes- 
sage, as that of an ambassador; a charge com- 
mitted to a messenger. [Archaic.] 
How many a pretty Embassy have I 
Receiv'd from them ! 
J. Beaumont, Psyche, ii. 59. 
Here, Persian, tell thy embassy. Repeat 
That to obtain thy friendship Asia's prince 
To me hath profler'd sov'reignty o'er Greece. 
Glover, Leonidas, x. 
Such touches are but embassies of love. 
Tennyson, Gardener's Daughter. 
3. A mission,--or the person or persons intrust- 
ed with a mission; a legation. 
Embassy after embassyvi&s sent to Rome by the Cartha- 
ginian government. Arnold, Hist. Rome, xiii. 
In 1155, the first year of Henry II. , there was an embassy 
from the kings of Norway. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modern Hist., p. 124. 
4. The official residence of an ambassador ; the 
ambassadorial building or buildings. 
embastardizet (em-bas'tar-diz), v. t. [< em- 1 
+ bastardize.] To bastardize. Also written 
imbastardize. 
The rest, imbastardized from the ancient nobleness of 
their ancestors, are ready to fall flat. 
Milton, Eikonoklastes, Pref. 
embaterion (em-ba-te'ri-on), n. ; pi. embateria 
(-a). [< Gr. kfiflaTTipiov (so. /ie?.of, song), the air 
to which soldiers marched, a march (the ana- 
pestic songs of Tyrtreus were so called), neut. 
embattlement 
of Eft/larS/putc., of or for marching in, < kfijfatvetv. 
step in, enter upon, < iv, in, + fiaiveiv, go, step.] 
A war-song sung by Spartan soldiers on the 
march, which was accompanied by music of 
flutes. 
embathet (em-bSTH'), v. t. [< em- 1 + bathe.] 
To bathe. Also written imbathe. 
Gave her to his daughters to tmbathe 
In nectar'd lavers, strew'd with asphodel. 
Milton, Comus, 1. 837. 
embattle 1 (em-bat'l), r. ; pret. and pp. embat- 
tled, ppr. embattling. [Early mod. E. also em- 
battail, embatteil; < ME. embatailen, enbatelen, 
array for battle, < OF. embataillier, array for 
battle, < en- + bataille, battle : see battle 1 . A 
different word from embattle 2 , but long con- 
fused with it.] I. trans. To prepare or array 
for battle; arrange in order of battle. 
Whan that he was etnbatailed, 
He goth and hath the felde assailed. 
Gower, Conf. Amant., I. 221. 
It was not long 
Ere on the plaine fast pricking Guyon spide 
One in bright armes einbalteiled full strong. 
Spenser, F. Q., II. v. 2. 
The English are embattled, you French peers. 
Shak.,Hen. V., IT. 2. 
Here once the embattled farmers stood, 
And fired the shot heard round the world. 
Emerson, Concord Hymn. 
Il.t intrans. To form in order of battle. 
We shall embattle 
By the second hour i' the morn. 
Sliak., A. and C., iv. 9. 
The Regent followed him [the French king], but could 
not overtake him till he came near to Senlis : There both 
the Annies encamped and embattelled, yet only some light 
Skirmishes passed between them. Baker, Chronicles, p. 183. 
embattle 2 (em-bat'l), v. t. ; pret. and pp. em- 
battled, ppr. embattling. [Early mod. E. also 
embattail; < ME. enbatailen, enbatelen, later en- 
batell; also, without the prefix, 60 fatten, , north- 
ern battalen, mod. battle*, q. v. ; only in pp. ; 
altered after bataile (E. battle 1 )^ OF. *embastil- 
ler (cf. ML. imbattajare, fortify), < en- + bas- 
tiller, build, fortify, embattle : see battlement. 
A different word from embattle 1 , but long con- 
fused with it.] To furnish with battlements; 
give the form of battlements to : used chiefly 
in the past participle. 
I saugh a gardeyn. . . . 
Enclosed was, and walled welle, 
With high walles enbatailed. 
Rom. of the Rose, 1. 136. 
I enbatell a wall, I make bastylmentes upon it to lokc 
out at. Palsgrave. 
Ancient towers, 
And roofs embattled high. . . . 
Fall prone. Coiejier, Task, ii. 122. 
Spurr'd at heart witli fieriest energy 
To embattail and to wall about thy cause 
With iron-worded proof. 
Tennyson, Sonnet to J. M. K. 
embattle 2 (em-bat'l), n. [< embattle*, v.] In 
her., a merlon, or a single one of the series of 
solid projections of a battlement. See cut un- 
der battlement. 
embattled(em-bat'ld),j>.a. [Pp.otembattle2,v.] 
Furnished with battlements ; 
specifically, in her., broken 
in square projections and de- 
pressions like the merlons 
and intervals of battlements : 
said of one of the lines form- 
ing the boundaries of an or- 
dinary or other bearing ; also 
said of the bearing whose out- 
line is so broken : as, a fesse 
embattled. Also battled, crenele, crenelated, cre- 
nellated. Also written imbattled. 
This Logryn a-mended gretly the Citee, and made towres 
and stronge walles enbateiled, and whan he hadde thus 
ame[n]ded it he channged the name and cleped it Logres, 
in breteigne, for that his name was Logryn. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 147. 
With hesitating step, at last, 
The embattled portal-arch he passed. 
Scott, L. of L. M., Int. 
Battled embattled. See battled?. Embattled grady. 
See grady. Embattled molding, in arch., a molding 
indented like a battlement. 
Argent, a Fesse Embat- 
tled Gules. 
Embattled Molding. Cathedral of Lincoln, England. 
embattlement (em-bat'1-ment), n. [Pseudo- 
archaic eii/lMil/a ii mi'nt, eih(it<iilcift ; not found 
in ME. ; < embattle? + -ment, or rather the same 
