Online Etymology Dictionary

embassy (n.): 1570s, "position of an ambassador," from Middle French embassee "mission, charge, office of ambassador," Old French ambassee, from Italian ambasciata, from Old Provençal ambaisada "office of ambassador," from Gaulish *ambactos "dependant, vassal," literally "one going around," from PIE *amb(i)-ag-to, from *ambi- (see ambi-) + *ambi- "around" (see ambi-) + *ag- "to drive, move" (see act (n.)).

Meaning "official residence and retinue of an ambassador" is from 1764. In earlier use were embassade (late 15c.), ambassade (early 15c.), from Old French variant ambassade.
embattle (v.): late 14c., "prepare for a fight," from Old French embataillier "to prepare for battle," from assimilated form of en- (see en- (1)) + bataille (see battle (n.)). Related: Embattled; embattling. Originally of armies; of individuals as well since 1590s (first attested in Spenser).
embattled (adj.): "under attack," by 1882; earlier and more etymologically it meant "prepared to fight" (late 15c.), and (of structures) "fitted with battlements" (late 14c.); past participle adjective from embattle (v.).
embed (v.): 1778, "to lay in a bed (of surrounding matter)," from em- (1) + bed (n.). Originally a geological term, in reference to fossils in rock; figurative sense is by 1835; meaning "place (a journalist) within a military unit at war" is from 2003 and the Iraq war. Related: Embedded; embedding.
embellish (v.): mid-14c., "to render beautiful," from Old French embelliss-, stem of embellir "make beautiful, ornament," from assimilated form of en- (see en- (1)) + bel "beautiful," from Latin bellus "handsome, pretty, fine" (see bene-). Meaning "dress up (a narration) with fictitious matter" is from mid-15c. Related: Embellished; embellishing.
embellishment (n.): 1590s, from embellish + -ment; or from Old French embelissement. Earlier noun was embellishing (mid-15c.).
ember (n.): "small, live coal," Old English æmerge "ember," merged with or influenced by Old Norse eimyrja, both from Proto-Germanic *aim-uzjon- "ashes" (source also of Middle Low German emere, Old High German eimuria, German Ammern); a compound from *aima- "ashes" (from PIE root *ai- (2) "to burn;" see edifice) + *uzjo- "to burn" (from PIE root *eus- "to burn;" source also of Latin urere "to burn, singe"). The -b- is intrusive.
ember-days (n.): Old English Ymbrendaeg, Ymbren, 12 days of the year (divided into four seasonal periods, hence Medieval Latin name quatuor tempora) set aside by the Church for fasting and prayers, from Old English ymbren "recurring," corruption of ymbryne "a circuit, revolution, course, anniversary," literally "a running around," from ymb "round" (cognate with Greek amphi, Latin ambo; see ambi-) + ryne "course, running" (see run (n.)). Perhaps influenced by a corruption of the Latin name (compare German quatember, Danish tamper-dage). The Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent, Whit-Sunday, Sept. 14, and Dec. 13, set aside for prayer and fasting.
ember-goose (n.): also embergoose, "loon," 1744, from Norwegian emmer-gaas, perhaps so called from its appearing on the coast in the ember days before Christmas.
embezzle (v.): early 15c., "make away with money or property of another, steal," from Anglo-French enbesiler "to steal, cause to disappear" (c. 1300), from Old French em- (see en- (1)) + besillier "torment, destroy, gouge," which is of unknown origin. Sense of "dispose of fraudulently to one's own use," is first recorded 1580s. Related: Embezzled; embezzling.
embezzlement (n.): 1540s, from embezzle + -ment. An earlier noun was embezzling (early 15c.).
embezzler (n.): 1660s, agent noun from embezzle.
embitter (v.): c. 1600, from em- (1) + bitter (adj.). Now rare in its literal sense; figurative meaning first attested 1630s. Related: Embittered; embitterment.
emblazon (v.): "inscribe conspicuously," also "extol," 1590s, from assimilated form of en- (1) + blazon. Related: Emblazoned; emblazoning.
emblem (n.): 1580s, "relief, raised ornament on vessels, etc.," from Latin emblema "inlaid ornamental work," from Greek emblema (genitive emblematos) "an insertion," from emballein "to insert," literally "to throw in," from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + ballein "to throw" (see ballistics). Meaning "allegorical drawing or picture" is from 1730, via sense development in French emblème "symbol" (16c.).
emblematic (adj.): 1640s, perhaps via French emblématique, as if from Latin *emblematicus, from emblema (see emblem). Related emblematically.
embodiment (n.): 1824, from embody + -ment.
embody (v.): 1540s, in reference to a soul or spirit invested with a physical form; from 1660s of principles, ideas, etc.; from em- (1) "in" + body (n.). Related: Embodied; embodying.
embolden (v.): 1570s, from em- (1) + bold + -en (1). Or perhaps an extended form of earlier embold, enbold (late 14c.). Related: Emboldened; emboldening.
embolism (n.): late 14c., "intercalation, insertion of days into a calendar," from Old French embolisme "intercalation," from Late Latin embolismus "insertion of days in a calendar to correct errors," from Late Greek embolismos "intercalation," from embolos "insertion, a plug, wedge" (see embolus). Medical sense of "obstruction of a blood vessel" is first recorded in English 1855. Related: embolismic.
embolus (n.): 1660s, "stopper, wedge," from Latin embolus "piston of a pump," from Greek embolos "peg, stopper; anything pointed so as to be easily thrust in," also "a tongue (of land), beak (of a ship)," from emballein "to insert, throw in, invade" (see emblem). Medical sense in reference to obstruction of a blood vessel is from 1866. Related: Embolic.
embonpoint (n.): "plumpness," 1751, from French embonpoint "fullness, plumpness" (16c.), from Old French phrase en bon point, literally "in good condition." Often a euphemism for "fatness." Middle English had the phrase in translation as in good point "in good condition, healthy, fortunate" (late 14c.).
embosom (v.): 1580s, from em- (1) + bosom (n.).
emboss (v.): "to ornament with raised work," late 14c., from Old French *embocer (compare embocieure "boss, stud, buckle"), from assimilated form of en- "in, into" (see en- (1)) + boce "knoblike mass" (see boss (n.2)). Related: Embossed; embossing.
embouchure (n.): 1760, in musical sense "placement of the mouth on a wind instrument," from French embouchure "river mouth, mouth of a wind instrument," from assimilated form of en- "in" (see en- (1)) + bouche "mouth" (see bouche).
embrace (v.): mid-14c., "clasp in the arms," from Old French embracier (12c., Modern French embrasser) "clasp in the arms, enclose; covet, handle, cope with," from assimilated form of en- "in" (see en- (1)) + brace, braz "the arms," from Latin bracchium (neuter plural brachia); see brace (n.). Related: Embraced; embracing; embraceable. Replaced Old English clyppan (see clip (v.2)), also fæðm (see fathom (v.)). Sexual sense is from 1590s.
embrace (n.): "a hug," 1590s, from embrace (v.). Earlier noun was embracing (late 14c.). Middle English embrace (n.) meant "bribery."
embrasure (n.): "enlargement of the interior aperture of a door or window," 1702, from French embrasure (16c.), from Old French embraser "to cut at a slant, make a groove or furrow in a door or window," from assimilated form of en- "in" (see en- (1)) + braser "to cut at a slant."
embrocate (v.): 1610s, from Medieval Latin embrocatus, past participle of embrocare, from Late Latin embrocha, from Greek embrokhe "lotion, fomentation," from embrekhein "to soak in, foment," from assimilated form of en (see en- (2)) + brekhein "to water, wet, rain, send rain," related to brokhe "rain," from PIE root *mergh- "to wet, sprinkle, rain." Related: Embrocated; embrocating; embrocation (early 15c.).
embroider (v.): late 14c., from Anglo-French enbrouder, from en- "in" (see en- (1)) + broisder "embroider," from Frankish *brozdon, from Proto-Germanic *bruzdajan. Spelling with -oi- is from c. 1600, perhaps by influence of broiden, irregular alternative Middle English past participle of braid (v.). Related: Embroidered; embroidering.
embroidery (n.): late 14c., embrouderie "art of embroidering;" see embroider + -y (4). Meaning "embroidered work" is from 1560s.
embroil (v.): c. 1600, "throw into disorder," from French embrouillier "entangle, confuse, embroil" (cognate of Italian imbrogliare), from assimilated form of en- "in" (see en- (1)) + brouiller "confuse," from Old French brooillier (see broil (v.2)). Sense of "involve in a quarrel" is first attested c. 1610. Related: Embroiled; embroiling. Embrangle "mix confusedly" is from 1660s.
embryo (n.): "fetus in utero at an early stage of development," mid-14c., from Medieval Latin embryo, properly embryon, from Greek embryon "a young one," in Homer, "young animal," later, "fruit of the womb," literally "that which grows," from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + bryein "to swell, be full."
embryology (n.): 1825, from stem of embryon (see embryo) + -logy. Related: Embryologist (c. 1850).
embryonic (adj.): 1819, from medical Latin embryonem (see embryo) + -ic. Figurative use is from 1856. Earlier adjectives were embryonal (1650s), embryonate (1690s). Related: Embryonically.
emcee (n.): 1933, emsee, from pronunciation of M.C., abbreviation of master of ceremonies, a noun phrase attested from the 1660s.
emend (v.): "remove faults from, alter for the better," c. 1400, from Latin emendare "to free from fault, correct, improve, revise," from assimilated form of ex- "out" (see ex-) + mendum (nominative menda) "fault, blemish" (see amend). Related: Emended; emending.
emendation (n.): mid-15c., of ways of life; 17c., of texts; from Latin emendationem (nominative emendatio) "a correction, improvement," noun of action from past participle stem of emendare "to free from fault" (see emend).
emerald (n.): "bright green precious stone," c. 1300, emeraude, from Old French esmeraude (12c.), from Medieval Latin esmaraldus, from Latin smaragdus, from Greek smaragdos "green gem" (emerald or malachite), from Semitic baraq "shine" (compare Hebrew bareqeth "emerald," Arabic barq "lightning").

Sanskrit maragdam "emerald" is from the same source, as is Persian zumurrud, whence Turkish zümrüd, source of Russian izumrud "emerald." For the excrescent e-, see e-.
In early examples the word, like most other names of precious stones, is of vague meaning; the mediæval references to the stone are often based upon the descriptions given by classical writers of the smaragdus, the identity of which with our emerald is doubtful. [OED]
Emerald Isle for "Ireland" is from 1795.
emerge (v.): 1560s, from Middle French émerger and directly from Latin emergere "bring forth, bring to light," intransitively "arise out or up, come forth, come up, come out, rise," from assimilated form of ex- "out" (see ex-) + mergere "to dip, sink" (see merge). The notion is of rising from a liquid by virtue of buoyancy. Related: Emerged; emerging.
emergence (n.): 1640s, "unforeseen occurrence," from French émergence, from emerger, from Latin emergere "rise up" (see emerge). Meaning "an emerging, process of coming forth" is from 1704.
emergency (n.): "unforeseen occurrence requiring immediate attention," 1630s, from Latin emergens, present participle of emergere "to rise out or up" (see emerge). Or from emerge + -ency. As an adjective by 1881.
emergent (adj.): late 14c., "rising from what surrounds it, coming into view," from Latin emergentem (nominative emergens), present participle of emergere "to rise out or up" (see emerge).
emeritus (adj.): c. 1600, from Latin emeritus "veteran soldier who has served his time," noun use of adjective meaning literally "that has finished work, past service," past participle of emerere "serve out, complete one's service," from assimilated form of ex- "out" (see ex-) + merere "to serve, earn," from PIE *(s)mer- (2) "to get a share of something" (see merit (n.)). First used of retired professors 1794 in American English.
emersed (adj.): 1680s, formed as if a past-participle adjective, from Latin emersus, past participle of emergere "rise out or up" (see emerge).
emersion (n.): "reappearance, act of emerging," 1630s, noun of action from past participle stem of Latin emergere "to rise out or up" (see emerge). Originally of eclipses and occultations.
emery (n.): granular mixture used as an abrasive, late 15c., from Middle French émeri, from Old French esmeril, from Italian smeriglo, from Vulgar Latin *smyrilium, from Greek smyris "abrasive powder" used for rubbing and polishing, probably a non-Greek word, perhaps from a Semitic source. Emery board attested from 1725.
emesis (n.): "action of vomiting," 1875, medical Latin, from Greek emesis "a vomiting," from emein "to vomit" (see emetic).
emetic: 1650s (n.), 1660s (adj.), from French émétique (16c.), from Latin emeticus, from Greek emetikos "causing vomiting," from emesis "vomiting," from emein "to vomit," from PIE *weme- "to spit, vomit" (see vomit (v.)).
emic (adj.): 1954, from phonemic.