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embarrass (v.)

1670s, "perplex, throw into doubt," from French embarrasser (16c.), literally "to block," from Italian imbarrazzo, from imbarrare "to bar," from assimilated form of in- "into, upon" (from PIE root *en "in") + Vulgar Latin *barra "bar" (see bar (n.1)).

Meaning "to hamper, hinder" is from 1680s. Meaning "make (someone) feel awkward" first recorded 1828. Original sense preserved in embarras de richesse (1751), from French (1726): the condition of having more wealth than one knows what to do with. Related: Embarrassed; embarrassing; embarrassingly.

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Definitions of embarrass from WordNet

embarrass (v.)
cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious;
Synonyms: abash
embarrass (v.)
hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of;
Synonyms: obstruct / blockade / block / hinder / stymie / stymy
From wordnet.princeton.edu