embroider
Meaning
- To stitch a decorative design on fabric with needle and thread of various colours.
- (figuratively) To add imaginary detail to a narrative to make it more interesting or acceptable.
Synonyms
sew together
tack together
drawnwork
do embroidery
do needlework
to ornament with needlework
Translations
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ɪmˈbɹɔɪdɚ/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English embrouderen, frequentative of embrouden (“to decorate, embroider”), equivalent to embroid + -er. Middle English embrouden itself comes from Anglo-Norman embrouder, from Old French embrosder (“to embroider”), ultimately of Germanic origin, though the exact pathway is uncertain. Possibly an intensive of Old French brosder, brouder (compare Norman broudaïr), from Gothic *𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌶𐌳𐍉𐌽 (*bruzdōn), related to English bristle and brad. Alternatively, perhaps from Frankish *anbroʀdōn (“to embroider, stitch”), related to Old High German anabrortōn (“to embroider”), Old English onbryrdan (“to prick, incite”).
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Notes