| 释义 |
emˈbarras, n.
Also 7–8 embarass, embarrass.
[a. F. embarras obstacle, embarrassment; cf. It. imbarrazzo, Sp. embarazo, Pg. embaraço, related to F. embarrer, f. en- (see en-) + barre bar.]
1. = embarrassment, in various senses. Obs. exc. as Fr. |ɑ̃bara|; now chiefly in phrase embarras de richesse ‘embarrassment of riches’ [Abbé d'Allainval (title) L'embarras des richesses (1726)], the state of having more wealth than one knows what to do with; usually fig.
1664Pepys Diary (1879) III. 13 The greatest embarras that I have..how to behave myself to Sir H. Bennet. 1677Temple Let. Sir J. Williamson Wks. 1731 II. 434 How great an Embarass Count Kinski is like to bring upon you there. 1710Berkeley Princ. Hum. Knowl. §25 Clear the First Principles of Knowledge from the embarras and delusion of words. 1751Chesterfield Let. 29 Mar. (1774) II. 6 Say..you dread l'embaras des richesses ever since you have seen what an incumbrance they were to poor Harlequin. 1756Foote Eng. fr. Paris ii, Aid me to escape this embarras. 1778Apthorpe Preval. Chr. 220, I think it impossible to clear up Cicero's embarras. 1826M. Wilmot Let. 11 July (1935) 243 A too large Stock in trade, proving now and then an embarras de richesse. 1864Burton Scot Abr. II. ii. 157 He received us..with some embarras. 1866Livingstone Jrnl. (1873) I. Introd. 8 He has an embarras de richesses. 1932C. Williams Eng. Poetic Mind iii. 77 Iago..is action incarnate only he cannot find his own reason for it. Othello has wronged him..; Othello has played him false with Emilia; so has Cassio; he loves Desdemona also—embarras de richesses.
2. Canada and (local) U.S. [N. Amer. Fr.] (See quots. 1814.) ? Obs.
1793A. Mackenzie Voy. Montreal (1801) 226 In passing over one of the embarras, our dog..fell in. 1814H. M. Brackenridge Views Louisiana 205 At the distance of every mile or two,..there are embarras, or rafts, formed by the collection of trees closely matted, and extending from twenty to thirty yards. Ibid. 208 Passed an embarras, N.E. side, the most difficult since we started. 1867Smyth Sailor's Work-bk., Embarras, an American term for places where the navigation of rivers..is rendered difficult by the accumulation of driftwood. |