Etymology dictionary
emasculation (n.) — emperor (n.)
emasculation (n.)
"the act of depriving a male of the function which characterizes the sex; castration," also more generally "the act of depriving of vigor or strength," 1620s, noun of action from emasculate.
emasculate (v.)
"to deprive of the male functions, deprive of virility or procreative power," c. 1600, from Latin emasculatus, past participle of emasculare "castrate," from assimilated form of ex "out, away" (see ex-) + masculus "male, manly" (see masculine). Originally and usually in a figurative sense in English. Related: Emasculated; emasculating.
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.
embalm (v.)
late 14c., embaumen "to apply balm or ointment; to embalm a corpse," from Old French embaumer, earlier embausmer, "preserve (a corpse) with spices," from assimilated form of en- "in" (see en- (1)) + baume "balm" (see balm) + verbal suffix -er. Balm in Middle English also had a specific sense of "aromatic preparation for embalming dead bodies." The -l- was inserted in English 1500s in imitation of Latin. Related: Embalmed; embalming.
embankment (n.)
"a mound, bank, dike, or earthwork raised for any purpose," 1766, from embank "to enclose with a bank" (1570s; see em- (1) + bank (n.2)) + -ment.
embargo (n.)
"order forbidding ships from certain other nations from entering or leaving a nation's ports," 1590s, from Spanish embargo "seizure, arrest; embargo," noun of action from embargar "restrain, impede, arrest, embargo," from Vulgar Latin *imbarricare, from assimilated form of in- "into, upon" (from PIE root *en "in") + *barra (see bar (n.1)). As a verb, from 1640s. Related: Embargoed.
embark (v.)
1540s (transitive), "to put on board a ship or other vessel;" 1570s (intransitive), "to go on board ship, as when setting out on a voyage," from French embarquer, from assimilated form of en- "in" (see en- (1)) + barque "small ship" (see bark (n.)). Related: Embarked; embarking.
embarkation (n.)
"act of putting or going on board ship, act of sending off by water," 1640s, from French embarcation, noun of action from embarquer (see embark) or from Spanish embarcacion.
embarras (n.)
"embarrassment," 1660s, from French embarras "obstacle;" see embarrass.
embarrassed (adj.)
"perplexed, confused," 1680s, past-participle adjective from embarrass.
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" is attested by 1809. The original sense is preserved in embarras de richesse "the condition of having more wealth than one knows what to do with" (1751), from French (1726). Related: Embarrassed; embarrassing; embarrassingly.
embarrassment (n.)
1670s, "state of being impeded, obstructed, or entangled" (of affairs, etc.), from embarrass + -ment, or from French embarrassement, from embarrasser.
As "a mental state of unease," from 1774. Meaning "thing which embarrasses" is from 1729. Earlier words expressing much the same idea include baishment "embarrassment, confusion" (late 14c.); baishednesse (mid-15c.).
embassador (n.)
identified by OED 2nd ed. print as a variant of ambassador "still preferred" in the U.S., though Craigie (1940) points out this is "no longer true."
embassy (n.)
1570s, "position of an ambassador," from 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 roots *ambhi- "around" + *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move").
The 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.).
embellishment (n.)
"act of embellishing; state of being embellished," 1590s, from embellish + -ment; or from Old French embelissement. Earlier noun was embellishing (mid-15c.).
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 belle). Meaning "dress up (a narration) with fictitious matter" is from mid-15c. Related: Embellished; embellishing.
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 *heus- "to burn;" source also of Sanskrit osati "to burn, scorch," usna- "hot;" Greek euo "to singe;" Latin urere "to burn, singe;" Old Norse usli, Old English ysle "hot ashes," Old Norse ysja "fire"). The -b- is unetymological.
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" (from Proto-Germanic umbi, from PIE root *ambhi- "around") + ryne "course, running" (from PIE root *rei- "to run, flow"). 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.
embezzler (n.)
"one who embezzles," 1660s, agent noun from embezzle.
embezzlement (n.)
"theft or misappropriation of funds placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer," 1540s, from embezzle + -ment. An earlier noun was embezzling (early 15c.).
embiggen (v.)
"to magnify, make larger," 1884; see em- + big (adj.) + -en (1).
embitter (v.)
"make bitter," c. 1600, from em- (1) + bitter (adj.). Now rare in its literal sense; figurative meaning "affect with bitterness or unhappiness" is attested by 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" (from PIE root *gwele- "to throw, reach"). Meaning "allegorical drawing or picture" is from 1730, via sense development in French emblème "symbol" (16c.).
emblematic (adj.)
"pertaining to or constituting an emblem; representative by some allusion or customary association," 1640s, perhaps via French emblématique, as if from Latin *emblematicus, from emblema (see emblem). Related emblematically.
embodiment (n.)
"investment in or manifestation through a physical body; a bringing into or presentation in or through a form," 1824, from embody + -ment.
embody (v.)
1540s, in reference to a soul or spirit, "invest with an animate form;" from 1660s of principles, ideas, etc., "express, arrange or exemplify intelligently or perceptibly;" from em- (1) "in" + body (n.). Related: Embodied; embodying.
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 "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" from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + ballein "to throw" (from PIE root *gwele- "to throw, reach," with extended sense "to pierce"). Medical sense of "obstruction of a blood vessel" is first recorded in English 1855. Related: embolismic.
embolden (v.)
"give boldness or courage to," 1570s, from em- (1) + bold + -en (1). Or perhaps an extended form of earlier embold, enbold (late 14c.). Related: Emboldened; emboldening.
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" from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + ballein "to throw" (from PIE root *gwele- "to throw, reach"). 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.)
"take into or hold in the bosom; hold in nearness or intimacy; admit to the heart or affections; cherish," 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) "an arm, a forearm," from Greek brakhion "an arm" (see brachio-). 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.)
"moisten and rub (a bruised or injured part of the body) with a liquid substance," 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.)
"decorate with ornamental needlework," 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 "to mix, mingle," figuratively "to have sexual intercourse" (13c., Modern French brouiller), perhaps from breu, bro "stock, broth, brew," from Frankish or another Germanic source (compare Old High German brod "broth"), from PIE root *bhreu- "to boil, bubble, effervesce, burn." Compare 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" (from PIE root *en "in") + bryein "to swell, be full."
embryology (n.)
"the science of the development of embryos," 1825, from stem of embryon (see embryo) + -logy. Related: Embryologist (c. 1850).
embryonic (adj.)
1819, "having the character or being in the condition of an embryo; pertaining or relating to an embryo or embryos," from medical Latin embryonem (see embryo) + -ic. Figurative use, "rudimentary, incomplete, inchoate" is from 1856. Earlier adjectives were embryonal (1650s), embryonate (1690s). Related: Embryonically.
emcee (n.)
1933, emsee, from pronunciation of M.C. (1790), abbreviation of master of ceremonies, a noun phrase attested from the 1660s. As a verb, M.C. is attested by 1938.
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.)
"removal of errors; the correction of that which is erroneous or faulty; alteration for the better; correction," 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 maragata "emerald" is from the same source, as is Persian zumurrud, whence Turkish zümrüd, source of Russian izumrud "emerald." For the unetymological e-, see e-.
Emerald Isle for "Ireland" is from 1795.
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.
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).
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.
emerge (v.)
"to rise from or out of anything that surrounds, covers, or conceals; come forth; appear, as from concealment," 1560s, from 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.
emery (n.)
granular mixture used as an abrasive, late 15c., from 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 is attested from 1725.
emeritus (adj.)
"having served out one's time, having done sufficient service," 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 root *(s)mer- (2) "to get a share of something." First used of retired professors 1794 in American English.
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.
emersed (adj.)
in botany, "standing out of or raised above water, raised partially above surrounding leaves," 1680s, formed as if a past-participle adjective, from Latin emersus, past participle of emergere "rise out or up" (see emerge).
emesis (n.)
"action of vomiting," 1875, medical Latin, from Greek emesis "a vomiting," from emein "to vomit" (see emetic).
emetic
1650s (n.) "medicine that induces vomiting;" 1660s (adj.) "inducing vomiting;" 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.)).
-emia
word-forming element in pathology meaning "condition of the blood," Modern Latin combining form of Greek haima (genitive haimatos) "blood," a word of no established etymology (replacing the usual IE word, represented in Greek by ear; possibly from uncertain PIE root *sei- "to drip" (compare Old High German seim "virgin honey," Welsh hufen), but according to Beekes this proposal "cannot explain the Greek vocalism."
emic (adj.)
"of or pertaining to analysis of cultural phenomena from the inside," 1954, from phonemic.
emigre (n.)
"an emigrant," applied specifically to royalists and others who fled France during the 1789 revolution, 1792, from French émigré "an emigrant," noun use of past participle of émigrer "emigrate" (18c.), from Latin emigrare "depart from a place" (see emigration). Originally used of royalist refugees from the French Revolution; extended 1920s to refugees from the Russian Revolution, then generally to political exiles.
emigrate (v.)
"to quit one country, state, or region and settle in another," 1778, a back-formation from emigration, or else from Latin emigratus, past participle of emigrare "move away, depart from a place," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + migrare "to move" (from PIE root *mei- (1) "to change, go, move"). In 19c. U.S., also "to remove from one state to another state or territory." Related: Emigrated; emigrating.
emigrant (n.)
"one who quits a country or region to settle in another," 1754, from Latin emigrantem (nominative emigrans), present participle of emigrare "move away" (see emigration). As an adjective in English from 1794.
emigration (n.)
"removal from one country or region to another for the purpose of residence," 1640s, from Late Latin emigrationem (nominative emigratio) "removal from a place," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin emigrare "move away, depart from a place," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + migrare "to move" (from PIE root *mei- (1) "to change, go, move").
Emil
masc. personal name, from German Emil, from French Emilé, from Latin Aemilius, name of a Roman gens, from aemulus "imitating, rivaling" (see emulation).
Emily
also Emilia, fem. proper name, from French Émilie, from Latin Aemilia; see Emil.
eminence (n.)
c. 1400, "projection, protuberance;" early 15c., "high or exalted position," from Old French eminence or directly from Latin eminentia "a distinctive feature, conspicuous part," from eminentem (nominative eminens) "standing out, projecting," figuratively, "prominent, distinctive," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + -minere, which is related to mons "hill" (from PIE root *men- (2) "to project").
As a title of honor (now only of cardinals) it is attested from 1650s. The original Éminence grise (French, literally "gray eminence") was François Leclerc du Trembley (1577-1638), confidential agent of Richelieu.
eminent (adj.)
early 15c., "standing or rising above other places; exceeding other things in quality or degree;" from Old French éminent "prominent" (13c.) or directly from Latin eminentem (nominative eminens) "standing out, projecting, prominent, high," figuratively "distinguished, distinctive," present participle of eminere "stand out, project; be prominent, be conspicuous," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + -minere, which is related to mons "hill" (from PIE root *men- (2) "to project"). From 1610s, of persons, "distinguished in character or attainments." Related: Eminently.
emirate (n.)
"rule or territory of an emir," 1847; see emir + -ate (1).
emir (n.)
among Arabic or Muslim peoples, "chief of a family or tribe; a ruling prince," 1590s, from Arabic amir "commander" (see admiral).
emission (n.)
early 15c., "something sent forth," from Old French émission (14c.) and directly from Latin emissionem (nominative emissio) "a sending out, a projecting, hurling, letting go, releasing," noun of action from past participle stem of emittere "send out" (see emit). Meaning "a giving off or emitting, the act of sending or throwing out" is from 1610s.
emissary (n.)
"person sent on a mission," 1620s, from French émissaire (17c.) or directly from Latin emissarius "a scout, a spy," literally "that is sent out," from emissus, past participle of emittere "send forth" (see emit).
emit (v.)
"to send forth, throw or give out," 1620s, from Latin emittere "send forth," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + mittere "to send" (see mission). Related: Emitted; emitting.
Emma
fem. proper name, from German Emma, from Erma, contraction of Ermentrude or some similar name. With lower-case -e-, as British telephone and radio enunciation of -m- (to avoid confusion with -n-), attested by 1891, common in British soldier's jargon in World War I, for example ack emma "a.m.," pip emma "p.m." Compare ack (-a-), toc (-t-).
Emmanuel
masc. personal name, from Greek form of Hebrew 'Immanu'el, literally "God is with us," from 'immanu "with us," from 'im "with," + first person plural pronominal suffix, + El "God."
Emmaus
Biblical town (Luke xxiv.13), from Aramaic (Semitic) hammat "hot spring."
emmer (n.)
species of wheat, 1908, from German Emmer, variant of Amelkorn, from amel "starch," from Latin amylum (see amyl).
emmet (n.)
"ant," from Old English æmete (see ant), surviving as a dialect word in parts of England; also, according to OED, in Cornwall a colloquial name for holiday tourists.
Emmy (n.)
statuette awarded by the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, 1949, said to be an alteration of Immy, from image.
emoji (n.)
pictorial character, by 2008, from Japanese e "picture" + moji "character" (compare kanji), coined 1999 in Japanese by Shigetaka Kurita, NTT DoCoMo employee. Its adoption in English was driven by Apple iPhone's inclusion of the feature in 2008. The similarity to native emoticon is a happy coincidence.
emollient (adj.)
"softening, making soft or supple," 1640s, from French émollient (16c.), from Latin emollientem (nominative emolliens), present participle of emollire "to make soft, soften," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + mollire "soften," from mollis "soft" (from PIE root *mel- (1) "soft"). The noun, "a therapeutic agent or process which softens and relaxes living tissues," is recorded from 1650s.
emolument (n.)
mid-15c., "the profit arising from office or employment, that which is given as compensation for services," from Old French émolument "advantage, gain, benefit; income, revenue" (13c.) and directly from Latin emolumentum "profit, gain, advantage, benefit," perhaps originally "payment to a miller for grinding corn," from emolere "grind out," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + molere "to grind" (from PIE root *mele- "to crush, grind"). Formerly also "profit, advantage, gain in general, that which promotes the good of any person or thing" (1630s).
emotional (adj.)
1821, "pertaining to emotion," from emotion + -al (1). Meaning "characterized by or subject to emotions" is attested by 1857. Related: Emotionally. Emotional intelligence was coined by mid-1960s, popular from mid-1980s.
emotive (adj.)
1735, "causing movement," from Latin emot-, past-participle stem of emovere "to move out, move away" (see emotion) + -ive. Meaning "capable of emotion" is from 1881; that of "evoking emotions" is from 1923, originally in literary criticism. Related: Emotively; emotiveness.
emote (v.)
"portray or express emotion," especially theatrically, 1909, American English, back-formation from emotion. Related: Emoted; emoting.
emotion (n.)
1570s, "a (social) moving, stirring, agitation," from French émotion (16c.), from Old French emouvoir "stir up" (12c.), from Latin emovere "move out, remove, agitate," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + movere "to move" (from PIE root *meue- "to push away"). The sense of "strong feeling" is recorded by 1650s; extended to any feeling by 1808.
emoticon (n.)
"pictorial representation of a facial expression using punctuation or other keyboard characters," by 1992, apparently from emotion + icon.
emotionless (adj.)
"lacking emotion," 1800, from emotion + -less.
empanada (n.)
type of meat-pie turnover, originally Spanish and Portuguese, the modern word and the thing came into English via Latin America, by 1927, American English, from Spanish empanada, past-participle adjective (fem.) of empanar "to roll in pastry and fry," from pan "bread," from Latin panis "bread," from PIE root *pa- "to feed."
empanel (v.)
late 15c., originally of juries, from Anglo-French empaneller, Old French empaneller; see en- (1) + panel (n.).
empathic (adj.)
1909 [Titchener], from empathy + -ic. Related: Empathically. Treated as a coinage of Titchener's when it appeared in psychological writing; there are dozens of uses of empathic in printed material from the late 19th century but most of these appear to be errors for emphatic.
empath (n.)
"person with a high degree of empathic ability," by 1980, from empathic, etc. (compare psychopath/psychopathic).
empathize (v.)
"understand and share the feelings of another," by 1917, from empathy + -ize. Related: Empathized; empathizing. Earlier appearances of the word in print seem to be an error for emphasize:
empathetic (adj.)
1909, from empathy on model of sympathetic and said to have been originally meant to be distinct from empathic. A 1918 article in The Journal of Abnormal Psychology (vol. XIII) emphatically recommended empathic:
Related: Empathetically.
empathy (n.)
1908, modeled on German Einfühlung (from ein "in" + Fühlung "feeling"), which was coined 1858 by German philosopher Rudolf Lotze (1817-1881) as a translation of Greek empatheia "passion, state of emotion," from assimilated form of en "in" (see en- (2)) + pathos "feeling" (from PIE root *kwent(h)- "to suffer"). A term from a theory of art appreciation that maintains appreciation depends on the viewer's ability to project his personality into the viewed object.
empathise (v.)
chiefly British English spelling of empathize; for suffix, see -ize. Related: Empathised; empathising.
emperor (n.)
early 13c., from Old French empereor "emperor, leader, ruler" (11c.; accusative; nominative emperere; Modern French empereur), from Latin imperatorem (nominative imperator) "commander, emperor," from past participle stem of imperare "to command" (see empire).
Originally a title conferred by vote of the Roman army on a successful general, later by the Senate on Julius and Augustus Caesar and adopted by their successors except Tiberius and Claudius. In the Middle Ages, applied to rulers of China, Japan, etc.; non-historical European application in English had been only to the Holy Roman Emperors (who in German documents are called kaiser), from late 13c., until in 1804 Napoleon took the title "Emperor of the French."