English
imbrue
Imbrue comes from Middle English embrewen, and goes back to Old French *embrever.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400*embreverreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500embrewen
- Englishearliest quotation 1837imbrue
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400*embreverreconstructed
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500embrewen
- Englishearliest quotation 1837imbrue
Earliest quotation: 1837, Edward Smallwood, Manuella: “Armed with the weapon which was destined to destroy…”
Every English word from Old French *embrever
Today it means
verb To stain [with in or with ‘blood, slaughter, etc.’].
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French *embrever / imbrue