Word: emboss Part of Speech: verb Etymology: PIE word *h₁én The verb is derived from Late Middle English embossen, embosen, embocen (“to be bloated; to bulge; to cause to bulge; to ornament in relief, emboss”) [and other forms], from Old French embocer (modern French embosser), from em- (a variant of en- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’)) + boce (“swelling”) + -er (suffix forming verbs); boce (“swelling”) is derived from Vulgar Latin *bottia (“a bump”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *bautan (“to beat”), from Proto-Germanic *bautaną (“to beat; to bump, knock; to push”). The English word is analysable as em- (prefix meaning ‘in, into’) + boss (“bump, lump, protuberance”). The noun is derived from the verb. Pronunciation: /ɪmˈbɒs/, /ɛm-/, /əmˈbɔs/, /əmˈbɑs/ 1. To cause (something) to stick out or swell; to extrude; also, to cause (someone or something) to be covered in swellings. Labels: transitive Example: 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; […] Example: His Cattel muſt of Rot and Murren die, / Botches and blaines muſt all his fleſh imboſs, / And all his people; […] 2. To make (a design on a coin, an ornament on an object, etc.) stand out from a surface. Labels: transitive Example: [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. Example: 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. To represent (a subject) on an object in relief; also, of a design or subject: to stand out on (an object) in relief. Labels: transitive Example: [R]ich embroideries by rare Art emboſt: […] Example: To the Cumæan Coaſt at length he came; / And, here alighting, built this coſtly Frame. / Inſcrib'd to Phœbus, here he hung on high / The ſteerage of his VVings, that cut the Sky: / Then o're the lofty Gate his Art emboſs'd / Androgeos Death, and Off'rings to his Ghoſt. 4. To decorate or mark (something) with a design or symbol in relief. Labels: transitive Example: The papers weren’t official until the seal had been embossed on them. Example: The title was embossed in gold lettering on the cover. 5. To decorate (something) with bosses (“ornamental convex protuberances”); to boss; hence, to decorate (something) richly. Labels: transitive Example: I wonne her with a gyrdle of gelt, / Emboſt with buegle about the belt. Example: I fed on ſcarlet hips and ſtoney havvs, / Or bluſhing crabs, or berries that imboſs / The bramble, black as jet, or ſloes auſtere. 6. To cause (something) to be prominent or stand out. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: [T]he triumph of general fraternity vvas but the most ſignalized by the total vvant of particular claims in that caſe; and by poſtponing all ſuch claims, in a caſe vvhere they really exiſted, vvhere they ſtood emboſſed, and in a manner forced themſelves on the vievv of common ſhort-ſighted benevolence. Example: [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. 7. To make (speech, etc.) unduly bombastic or grand. Labels: figuratively, obsolete, transitive Example: All this diſſention and ſtrife was kindled (no doubt) by the meanes of certeine ſowers of diſcord, ſycophants, paraſits, flatterers, clawbacks, & pickeſhanks, […] thinking by their emboſſed ſpeech to tickle the eares and harts of the yoong princes, […]