▪ I. † emˈbark, n. Obs. rare.
In 7 embarque.
[f. next vb.: cf. Sp. embarco.]
= embarkation.
| 1654 L'Estrange Chas. I, 136 Being after his embarque, twice driven back by tempest. |
▪ II. embark, v.
(ɛmˈbɑːk)
Forms: 6–8 embarque, (6 enbarque), 6–7 imbarke, 7–8 imbark, -que, 6– embark.
[ad. F. embarquer, a com. Romanic word = It. imbarcare, Pr., Sp., Pg. embarcar:—late L. imbarcāre, f. in- (see in-) + barca bark n.2]
I. trans.
1. a. To put on board ship, make to go on board. b. Of the ship: To receive on board. † c. refl. = 3 a.
| 1550 Nicolls Thucyd. 20 The Corinthians who..had thair people embarqued. Ibid. 52 b, One part of them embarqued themself. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii Prol. 5 You haue seene The well-appointed King at Douer Peer, Embarke his Royaltie. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1638) 89 And therupon imbarking themselues with all things necessary. 1705 Otway Orphan v. vii. 2103 The Vessel..Where all the Treasure of my Soul's embarqu'd. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. II. xxxvi. 329 They always embarked a sufficient number of horses. 1843 Prescott Mexico (1850) I. 235 Then embarking..his troops, Cortés crossed the river. 1885 Manch. Exam. 25 Mar. 4/7 The Osborne will..embark the Prince. |
2. transf. and fig.; esp. To invest (money) in a commercial undertaking; to involve (a person) in an enterprise. † Also refl. = 3 b, 4.
| 1584 R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. x. vi. 147 Such would be imbarked in the Ship of fooles. 1642 Rogers Naaman 31 The soule..imbarkes her selfe in this error, by the conceit of her wealth, health, youth. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. iii. (1702) I. 206 He..embark'd himself in Publick employments. a 1674 ― Life (1751) III. 956 Such an Alliance..as might embark them against France. 1742 Middleton Cicero III. ix. 2 Age..rendered him wholly unfit..to embark himself in an affair so desperate. 1832 H. Martineau Hill & Vall. ii. 20 A few thousand pounds, which he embarked..in an ironwork. |
II. intr. for refl.
3. To go on board ship; to take ship. a. lit. Const. for (the destination).
| 1580 Sidney Arcadia v. 448 Forthwith imbarqued for Byzantium. 1602 Warner Alb. Eng. ix. xlix. 227 Our Gallants did imbarke each-wheare. 1693 Temple Mem. Wks. 1731 I. 456 Prince and Princess embarqu'd for Holland. 1735 Pope Donne's Sat. viii. 27 The ark Where all the Race of Reptiles might embark. 1757 Burke Abridgm. Eng. Hist. Wks. X. 173 Cæsar..accordingly embarked with the infantry. 1816 Shelley Alastor 304 A restless impulse urged him to embark. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. xxviii. 282 We..joyously embarked again upon a free lead. |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1635 Quarles Embl. Introd. (1718) 3 Blest soul, that here embark'st: thou sail'st apace. a 1667 Cowley Bk. at Oxford Wks. 1710 II. 548 The sacred Ark, Where all the World of Science does imbark. 1745 De Foe's Eng. Tradesm. (1841) I. vii. 55 The same Creditors will embark with you again. |
4. To engage in a business or undertaking, as in war, commerce, or the like.
| 1649 Selden Laws Eng. i. lxiii. (1739) 128 [He] imbarqued together with the Laity against the growing power of the Clergy. 1787 Pitt in G. Rose Diaries (1860) I. 67 Prussia being completely embarked. 1858 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. (1865) I. iii. xviii. 249 Friedrich Wilhelm..had been forced..to embark in that big game. 1869 Rogers Adam Smith's W.N. I. Pref. 23 Had he not suffered himself..to embark in the..most disastrous of..wars. |
▪ III. embark
var. imbark, Obs., to enclose in bark.