embroil
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embroil¹
- /ɪmˈbɹɔɪl/ UK
- /ɛm-/ UK
- /əmˈbɹɔɪl/ US
- /ɛm-/ US
Rhymes with -ɔɪl
Where it comes from
PIE word
*h₁én
The verb is borrowed from French embrouiller (“to entangle”), from em- (a variant of en- (prefix meaning ‘in; into’)) + brouiller (“to confuse, mix up”) (ultimately from Vulgar Latin *brodiculāre, from *brodicāre, from Late Latin brodium (“broth, stew; mixture”), from Frankish *broþ (“broth”), from Proto-Germanic *bruþą (“stock, broth”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (“to boil; to brew”)).
The noun is derived from the verb.
Cognates
* Italian imbrogliare
* Spanish embrollar
verb embroils · embroiling · embroiled · embroil
- To bring (something) into a state of confusion or uproar; to complicate, to confuse, to jumble. Rumor next and Chance, / And Tumult and Confuſion all imbroild, / And Diſcord with a thouſand various mouths.
- To cause (someone) to be drawn into or involved in a difficult situation or state of contention. Avoid him. He will embroil you in his fights.
noun embroils
- A state of confusion or uproar; a commotion, a disturbance; also, a quarrel.
- A state of anxiety or disturbance of the mind.
embroil²
- /ɪmˈbɹɔɪl/ UK
- /ɛm-/ UK
- /əmˈbɹɔɪl/ US
- /ɛm-/ US
Rhymes with -ɔɪl
Where it comes from
From em- (a variant of en- (intensifying prefix)) + broil (“to expose to great heat; (obsolete) to burn”) (from Late Middle English broilen, brulen (“to burn; to scorch, singe; (cooking) to broil, grill”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Old French bruler, bruillir, brusler (“to burn”) (modern French brûler), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerw-, *bʰrew- (“to boil; to brew”)).
verb embroils · embroiling · embroiled
- To set (something) on fire; to burn (something). Indeed if vve vvill be building our Babels, and thus aſſault Omnipotence, 'tis but juſt vve ſhould have our language confounded, and that that knovvledge for vvhich vve boldly attempt to rifle Gods cabinet, ſhould like the Coal from the Altar, ſerve only to embroil and conſume the ſacrilegious invad
