embarrassingadj.

Brit.

/ɪmˈbarəsɪŋ/,

/ɛmˈbarəsɪŋ/, U.S.

/əmˈbɛrəsɪŋ/,

/ɛmˈbɛrəsɪŋ/

Forms: see embarrass v. and -ing suffix².

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: embarrass v., -ing suffix².

Etymology: < embarrass v. + -ing suffix².

1. That causes obstruction or presents an obstacle; that hinders, hampers, or impedes; troublesome. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1670 tr. L. G. de Cordemoy Disc. written to Learned Frier 19 There hath been a great number of these particles very smooth and very pliant, mingled with other bodies, a great part of which had figures so embarassing [Fr. embarrassantes], that their Aggregate could form no other but hard Masses.

1696 W. Cockburn Acct. Distempers Seafaring People ii. x. 139 The body cannot but reap a vast advantage from all the useful parts [of a powder] that are left, without being, in the least, hurt by any thing of it that's heavy, embarrassing and injurious.

1743 Gentleman's Mag. Oct. 509/1 These..are the Inconveniences which the Iberians feel from our Fleets in the Middle Seas, and even these, however embarrassing,..are lighter than those which our Columbian Navy produces.

1853 G. Grote Hist. Greece XI. ii. lxxxvii. 357 An attack..amidst embarrassing woods and rocks.

1902 A. M. Copeland Hist. Hampden County xii. 173 The work was retarded by many embarrassing obstacles; but at last, after several years, the canals were substantially completed.

a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. x. 171 Near the posterior end [of sea cucumbers] there are sometimes strange organs..which eject long sticky threads, probably embarrassing to enemies.

2. That causes uncertainty; perplexing, confusing; complicated. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > [adjective]

maskinga1387

maskeringc1400

mazingc1449

mazefula1586

perplexing1585

distraughtful1594

confounding1595

confusive1611

perplexful1618

distracting1632

distractive1633

perplexivea1637

obstupefying1660

perplexitivea1665

posing1666

distractious1667

nonplussing1670

umbraging1683

gravelling1686

embarrassing1691

wildering1742

distractful1746

staggering1769

baffling1783

bewildering1792

head-scratching1827

mystifyingc1827

mystificatory1830

riddlesome1843

confusing1846

1691 tr. Present State of Christendom Consider'd viii. 90 Duke. This is without dispute the most difficult Point of all... Cardinal. 'Tis indeed very perplexed, and is more embarrassing of it self than all the Pretensions of the other Princes.

1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Puzzlingness, perplexedness, embarrassing Quality.

1749 S. Lowe Arithm. in Two Parts 8 Pence-tables..are (however generaly recommended) not only unnecessary, but embarrassing.

1807 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 17 537 The general question of amputation..is found in practice difficult and embarrassing.

1871 S. P. Andrews Primary Synopsis Universol. vi. 95 The ideas themselves are the most subtle and embarrassing.

1921 Harvard Law Rev. 34 233 The use of an inconsistent terminology is peculiarly embarrassing. Another cause of confusion and uncertainty is [etc.].

a. That causes or is a source of embarrassment (embarrassment n. 3); causing a person to feel self-conscious or awkward. In early use sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 2.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or awkward

ungaina1500

ungainful1565

awky1655

awkward1709

embarrassing1778

unked1861

sticky1871

the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > [adjective] > embarrassed > embarrassing

abashing1530

embarrassing1778

hot-making1931

cringy1967

cringe-making1969

cringe-inducing1972

toe-curling1976

cringeworthy1977

cringe2001

1778 F. Burney Jrnl. July (1994) 59 These sort of Questions [about the authorship of Evelina] are always abominably embarrassing.

1843 N. P. Willis in Graham's Mag. Oct. 30/2 He had Miss Onthank to himself on the driving box, and could talk to his horses in the embarrassing pauses.

1896 Argosy Feb. 483/1 Good joke on me..though deuced embarrassing.

1922 A. Jekyll Kitchen Ess. 101 The restaurant has its drawbacks..that embarrassing problem, the tips.

1945 J. Agate Diary 1 Aug. in Selective Ego (1976) 223 My hosts plied me with embarrassing questions. ‘Is Gielgud a great actor?’

1965 G. Jones Island of Apples iii. vii. 222 He took morning assembly and it was embarrassing to listen to him... I was afraid that any moment he might break down altogether and burst out crying.

2006 Time Out N.Y. 16 Nov. 57/1 Those of us who've found ourselves in the embarrassing situation of not being able to silence a loud ring tone during a movie or shooting.

b. That causes an organization, government, person, etc., to appear incompetent, inadequate, or less worthy of respect; humiliating.

ΚΠ

1893 Glasgow Herald 28 Jan. 7/4 The intention with which Sir Frederick Milner is credited of moving an amendment..protesting against the release of the dynamiters will no doubt prove considerably embarrassing to the Government.

1929 F. H. Hinsley in H. H. Dodwell Cambr. Hist. Brit. Empire III. viii. 271 The negotiations..leaked out and led to embarrassing questions in the House of Commons.

1966 R. J. Moore Sir Charles Wood's Indian Policy vii.125 There was always the danger that Manchester's opposition would inflict an embarrassing defeat upon the government.

1975 Guardian 5 Dec. 23/1 He [sc. Manuel Orantes] won only 11 points in the second set, and lost 12 of the last 13 points. It was an embarrassing display by a great player.

2013 Sunday Times (Nexis) 7 Apr. (Travel section) 2 The car-hire giant..was forced into an embarrassing U-turn last week after admitting that a long-awaited change to booking policy did not apply to rentals outside Britain.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	embarrassing
释义	embarrassingadj. Brit. /ɪmˈbarəsɪŋ/, /ɛmˈbarəsɪŋ/, U.S. /əmˈbɛrəsɪŋ/, /ɛmˈbɛrəsɪŋ/ Forms: see embarrass v. and -ing suffix². Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: embarrass v., -ing suffix². Etymology: < embarrass v. + -ing suffix². 1. That causes obstruction or presents an obstacle; that hinders, hampers, or impedes; troublesome. Now rare. ΚΠ 1670 tr. L. G. de Cordemoy Disc. written to Learned Frier 19 There hath been a great number of these particles very smooth and very pliant, mingled with other bodies, a great part of which had figures so embarassing [Fr. embarrassantes], that their Aggregate could form no other but hard Masses. 1696 W. Cockburn Acct. Distempers Seafaring People ii. x. 139 The body cannot but reap a vast advantage from all the useful parts [of a powder] that are left, without being, in the least, hurt by any thing of it that's heavy, embarrassing and injurious. 1743 Gentleman's Mag. Oct. 509/1 These..are the Inconveniences which the Iberians feel from our Fleets in the Middle Seas, and even these, however embarrassing,..are lighter than those which our Columbian Navy produces. 1853 G. Grote Hist. Greece XI. ii. lxxxvii. 357 An attack..amidst embarrassing woods and rocks. 1902 A. M. Copeland Hist. Hampden County xii. 173 The work was retarded by many embarrassing obstacles; but at last, after several years, the canals were substantially completed. a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. x. 171 Near the posterior end [of sea cucumbers] there are sometimes strange organs..which eject long sticky threads, probably embarrassing to enemies. 2. That causes uncertainty; perplexing, confusing; complicated. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > perplexity, bewilderment > act of perplexing > [adjective] maskinga1387 maskeringc1400 mazingc1449 mazefula1586 perplexing1585 distraughtful1594 confounding1595 confusive1611 perplexful1618 distracting1632 distractive1633 perplexivea1637 obstupefying1660 perplexitivea1665 posing1666 distractious1667 nonplussing1670 umbraging1683 gravelling1686 embarrassing1691 wildering1742 distractful1746 staggering1769 baffling1783 bewildering1792 head-scratching1827 mystifyingc1827 mystificatory1830 riddlesome1843 confusing1846 1691 tr. Present State of Christendom Consider'd viii. 90 Duke. This is without dispute the most difficult Point of all... Cardinal. 'Tis indeed very perplexed, and is more embarrassing of it self than all the Pretensions of the other Princes. 1727 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II Puzzlingness, perplexedness, embarrassing Quality. 1749 S. Lowe Arithm. in Two Parts 8 Pence-tables..are (however generaly recommended) not only unnecessary, but embarrassing. 1807 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 17 537 The general question of amputation..is found in practice difficult and embarrassing. 1871 S. P. Andrews Primary Synopsis Universol. vi. 95 The ideas themselves are the most subtle and embarrassing. 1921 Harvard Law Rev. 34 233 The use of an inconsistent terminology is peculiarly embarrassing. Another cause of confusion and uncertainty is [etc.]. 3. a. That causes or is a source of embarrassment (embarrassment n. 3); causing a person to feel self-conscious or awkward. In early use sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 2. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or awkward ungaina1500 ungainful1565 awky1655 awkward1709 embarrassing1778 unked1861 sticky1871 the mind > emotion > humility > feeling of shame > [adjective] > embarrassed > embarrassing abashing1530 embarrassing1778 hot-making1931 cringy1967 cringe-making1969 cringe-inducing1972 toe-curling1976 cringeworthy1977 cringe2001 1778 F. Burney Jrnl. July (1994) 59 These sort of Questions [about the authorship of Evelina] are always abominably embarrassing. 1843 N. P. Willis in Graham's Mag. Oct. 30/2 He had Miss Onthank to himself on the driving box, and could talk to his horses in the embarrassing pauses. 1896 Argosy Feb. 483/1 Good joke on me..though deuced embarrassing. 1922 A. Jekyll Kitchen Ess. 101 The restaurant has its drawbacks..that embarrassing problem, the tips. 1945 J. Agate Diary 1 Aug. in Selective Ego (1976) 223 My hosts plied me with embarrassing questions. ‘Is Gielgud a great actor?’ 1965 G. Jones Island of Apples iii. vii. 222 He took morning assembly and it was embarrassing to listen to him... I was afraid that any moment he might break down altogether and burst out crying. 2006 Time Out N.Y. 16 Nov. 57/1 Those of us who've found ourselves in the embarrassing situation of not being able to silence a loud ring tone during a movie or shooting. b. That causes an organization, government, person, etc., to appear incompetent, inadequate, or less worthy of respect; humiliating. ΚΠ 1893 Glasgow Herald 28 Jan. 7/4 The intention with which Sir Frederick Milner is credited of moving an amendment..protesting against the release of the dynamiters will no doubt prove considerably embarrassing to the Government. 1929 F. H. Hinsley in H. H. Dodwell Cambr. Hist. Brit. Empire III. viii. 271 The negotiations..leaked out and led to embarrassing questions in the House of Commons. 1966 R. J. Moore Sir Charles Wood's Indian Policy vii.125 There was always the danger that Manchester's opposition would inflict an embarrassing defeat upon the government. 1975 Guardian 5 Dec. 23/1 He [sc. Manuel Orantes] won only 11 points in the second set, and lost 12 of the last 13 points. It was an embarrassing display by a great player. 2013 Sunday Times (Nexis) 7 Apr. (Travel section) 2 The car-hire giant..was forced into an embarrassing U-turn last week after admitting that a long-awaited change to booking policy did not apply to rentals outside Britain. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adj.1670
随便看	tube-shell tube-shutter tube-spinner tube-stopper tube-surface tube-train tube-valve tube-vase tube-vice tube-wall tube-weaver tube-well tube-whistle tube-work tube-worker tube-worm tube-wrench tubeapparatus tubear tubebath tubebearing tubeboard tubebreather tubebrush tubebudding