emboss

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To cause (something) to stick out or swell

   To cause (something) to stick out or swell; to extrude; also, to cause (someone or something) to be covered in swellings.

   • VVhen God, vvhoſe vvords more in a moment can, / Then in an Age the proudeſt ſtrength of Man, / Had ſeuered the Floods, leuell'd the Fields, / Embas't the Valleys, and emboſt the Hils; […]
   • His Cattel muſt of Rot and Murren die, / Botches and blaines muſt all his fleſh imboſs, / And all his people; […]
   • An oak grew near, and with its ample boughs / O'ercanopied the spring; its fretted roots / Emboss'd the bank, and on their tufted bark / Grew plants which love the moisture and the shade.
2. 2

   To make (a design on a coin, an ornament on an object, etc.) stand out from a surface.

   • [S]o glorious vvas her Throne, / In vvhich himſelfe to ſit great Neptune had been knovvn; / […] / No Fiſh in this vvide vvaſte but vvith exceeding coſt / VVas there in Antique vvorke moſt curiouſly imboſt.
   • The house opposite my lodging had been formerly a Palace of the King's, the outside was totaly cover'd with fleurs de lyes, emboss'd out of yᵉ stone.
3. 3

   To represent (a subject) on an object in relief

   To represent (a subject) on an object in relief; also, of a design or subject: to stand out on (an object) in relief.

   • [R]ich embroideries by rare Art emboſt: […]
   • Most of its [the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba's] ancient glories have indeed long since departed. The rich bronze which embossed its gates, the myriads of lamps which illuminated its aisles, have disappeared; […]
4. ›+ 12 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To decorate or mark (something) with a design or symbol in relief.

      • The papers weren’t official until the seal had been embossed on them.
      • The title was embossed in gold lettering on the cover.
   2. 5

      To decorate (something) with bosses (“ornamental convex protuberances”)

      To decorate (something) with bosses (“ornamental convex protuberances”); to boss; hence, to decorate (something) richly.

      • I wonne her with a gyrdle of gelt, / Emboſt with buegle about the belt.
      • I fed on ſcarlet hips and ſtoney havvs, / Or bluſhing crabs, or berries that imboſs / The bramble, black as jet, or ſloes auſtere.
      • And bloated ſpider, till the pamper'd peſt / Is made familiar, vvatches his approach, / Comes at his call and ſerves him for a friend— / To vvear out time in numb'ring to and fro / The ſtuds that thick emboſs his iron door, […]
   3. 6

      To cause (something) to be prominent or stand out.

      • [Luke] Shaw's goal embossed his latest man-of-the-match performance and it came in front of Gareth Southgate, although the England manager has surely decided already to recall him for the internationals at the end of the month.
   4. 7

      To make (speech, etc.) unduly bombastic or grand.

   5. 8

      Synonym of boss (“a knob or projection”).

   6. 9

      Of a hunted animal

      Of a hunted animal: to take shelter in a forest or wood.

      • So vertue giv'n for loſt, / Depreſt, and overthrovvn, as ſeem'd, / Like that ſelf-begott'n bird / In the Arabian woods emboſt, […]
      • An Elephant from one of thoſe / Tvvo mighty Armies is broke looſe, / […] / Look quickly, leſt the Sight of us / Should cauſe the ſtartled Beaſt t’imboſs.
   7. 10

      To drive (a hunted animal) to exhaustion by chasing it

      To drive (a hunted animal) to exhaustion by chasing it; to exhaust; hence, to make (a hunted animal) foam at the mouth due to exhaustion from being chased.

      • Thus stode I in the frytthy forest of Galtres, / Ensowkid with sylt of the myry mose, / Where hartis belluyng, embosyd with distres, / Ran on the raunge so longe, […]
      • In her right hand a firebrand ſhee did toſſe / About her head, ſtill roming here and there; / As a diſmayed Deare in chace emboſt, / Forgetfull of his ſafety, hath his right vvay loſt.
   8. 11

      To cause (an animal's body, a person's mouth, etc.) to be covered with foam.

      • For, jaded now, and spent with toil, / Embossed with foam, and dark with soil, / While every gasp with sobs he drew, / The labouring stag strained full in view.
   9. 12

      To cause (someone, their heart or soul, etc.) to become extremely fatigued

      To cause (someone, their heart or soul, etc.) to become extremely fatigued; to exhaust.

      • [W]e haue almoſt imboſt him, you ſhall ſee his fall to night; for indeede he is not for your Lordſhippes reſpect.
      • Great God! my Time's but ſhort, and long my vvay, / My heart hath loſt her Path, and gone aſtray, / My ſpirit's faint, and fraile, my ſoule's imboſt, / If thou helpe not, I am for ever loſt; […]
   10. 13

       Of a person

       Of a person: to foam at the mouth; also (figurative), to be furious, to rage.

   11. 14

       To enclose or suit (a person) in armour.

       • A knight her mett in mighty armes emboſt, […]
   12. 15

       To enclose or surround (someone or something).

       • The knight his thrillant ſpeare again aſſayd / In his bras-plated body to emboſſe, […]
       • None of them raſhly durſt to her approch, / Ne in ſo glorious ſpoile themſelues emboſſe, / Her ſuccourd eke the Champion of the bloody Croſſe.
       • And there all night himſelfe in anguiſh toſt, / Vovving, that neuer he in bed againe / His limbes vvould reſt, ne lig in eaſe emboſt, / Till that his Ladies ſight he more attaine, / Or vnderſtand, that ſhe in ſafetie did remaine.

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