▪ I. embattle, v.1
(ɛm-, ɪmˈbæt(ə)l)
Forms: α. 4–6 em-, enbataile, 6 embattail(e, -ayl, (9 arch. embattail), 6 embatteil, 5–6 enbatel(l, -yl, 6–8 embattel(l, (6 enbattle, 7 embatle), 6– embattle. β. 5– 6 imbatail, -ttail, 6–7 im-, inbattel, 7–8 imbattle.
[ME. embataile, a. OF. embataillier to prepare for battle, f. en- (see en-) + bataille battle n.1]
1. trans. To set (an army) in battle array. Also (Spenser), to arm, prepare for battle (an individual).
| 1393 Gower Conf. II. 247 He fonde His enemy full embatailed. c 1450 Merlin 152 Telleth how thei were inbatailed a-gein the xj kynges. 1494 Fabyan vi. ccxvii. 236 Than the Normans imbateled y⊇ fotemen. 1513 More Rich. III (1641) 429 When the Earle of Richmond knew..the King was neere embattailed. 1570–87 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1806) I. 329 Hereupon Malcolme imbattelling his people. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. v. 2 One in bright armes embatteiled full strong. a 1677 Barrow Serm. (1683) II. xi. 155 As a General..mustereth and embattaileth his troops. 1755 Carte Hist. Eng. IV. 457 It was three..before the King's army was embattled. c 1840 De Quincey Autobiog. Sk. Wks. I. 240 But once embattled, what should hinder them from detecting a flaw in their commission? |
| fig. 1593 Nashe Christ's T. (1613) 133 Embattelling our selues against sin, we must vse the weapons & arts of al Nations. 1636 B. Jonson Discov. (1692) 702 With ability to render the one lov'd, the other hated, by his proper embatteling them. 1809–10 Coleridge Friend (1865) 214 Yet let us not embattle our feelings against our reason. |
2. refl. To form in order of battle; to take up a position in the field.
| c 1450 Lonelich Grail xiii. 458 Eualach enbatailled him in the feeld. 1503–4 Act. 19 Hen. VII, c. 34 Pream., Dyvers..inbatelled theymself..contrarie to the Dutie of their allegeaunce. 1580 North Plutarch (1676) 212 He commanded the first Bands..should embattel themselves. 1844 Blackw. Mag. LVI. 531 Another had now slowly reared and embattled itself against the..Crescent. |
† b. intr. for refl. Obs.
| 1597 Daniel Civ. Wares vii. lix, And near Northampton both Embattelling, Made now the very Heart of England bleed. 1662 ? Dk. Ormonde Laws & Ord. Army in Irel., Every..Souldier..shall keep silence when the Armie is..marching or imbattailing. 1738 Glover Leonidas ix. 14 An ample space Where myriads might imbattle. |
3. To fortify (a building, town, etc.). Cf. embattle v.2; in many passages it is impossible to say which verb is intended. Also fig.
| c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1684 Oppon ech pere þar stent a tour{revsc} enbataild wyþ queynte engynne. 1598 Yong Diana 152 The wals loftie and strongly embattelled. 1622 Heylin Cosmogr. i. (1682) 183 Embattelled according to the modern Art of Fortifications. 1830 Blackw. Mag. XXVIII. 126 Fear builds castles and embattles cities. 1830 Tennyson Sonn. to J. M. K., To embattail and to wall about thy cause With iron-worded proof. |
▪ II. embattle, v.2
(ɛmˈbæt(ə)l)
Forms: 5 enbatel, 6 enbatell, embatel, 7 embatle, 7– embattle.
[f. en- + battle v.2; app. not in OF.]
trans. To furnish (a building, wall, etc.) with battlements. Also fig.
| c 1400 [see embattled ppl. a.2]. 1463 Bury Wills (1850) 37, I wil..that the Rysbygate..be..enbatelyd substancyally to endure. 1530 Palsgr. 532, I enbatell a wall, I make bastylmentes upon it. 1538 Leland Itin. III. 34 Treury..embateling al the Waulles of the House in a maner made it a Castelle. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 753 To fortifie and Kernel his mansion house, that is, to embatle it. 1627 Speed England Abr. xxvi. §5 To build about and embattle a wall. 1823 Rutter Fonthill 71 Another parapet, pierced and embattled. 1851 Turner Dom. Archit. II. Introd. 23 Licenses to embattle manor-houses. |
▪ III. † emˈbattle, n. Obs. rare—1.
In 6 embatel.
[f. embattle v.2]
= battlement.
| a 1547 Surrey Aeneid ii. 575 Griped for hold thembatel of the wall. |