v. Also (6 imber) 6–7 imbar(re. [ad. F. embarrer, f. en- (see EN-) + barre bar; cf. Pr. and Sp. embarrar, It. imbarrare.]
1. trans. To enclose within bars; to enclose, imprison. Also fig. arch.
1594. Nashe, Unfort. Trav., 27. If there bee anie sparke of Adams Paradized perfection yet imberd vp in the breastes of mortall men.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. vii. 44. Fast embar’d in mighty brazen wall.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, III. lv. 50. Three sides are sure imbard. Ibid., XII. i. 213. Now in darke night was all the world imbard.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. xii. (1632), 314. There is great reason why the spirit of man should be so strictly embarred.
1855. Singleton, Virgil, I. 42. The ground began … the ocean to embar.
2. To oppose a barrier to; to arrest, stop; to interrupt. Also, to impede (commerce) by an embargo. arch. or Obs.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 25/1. Not imbard from his posting pase, by reason the towne was not perclosed.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, I. (Arb.), 30. Venus embarring his tale … sweetlye replyed.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1621), 290. He … lay readie to embarre the Turks passage backe againe out of Asia.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 130. The King … embarred also all further trade for the future.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud, I. (1671), 160. Embarred their trade.
† b. Law. To put a stop or end to; to forbid by legislative enactment; to bar (a claim, a title) = BAR v. 5 b. Obs.
1542–3. Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 20 (title), An act to embarre feined recoueries of landes, wherin the kinges maiestie is in reuercion.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., I. ii. 94. To imbarre their crooked Titles Vsurpt from you.
† 3. To exclude, prohibit, debar (a person) from an action. Rare const. to with inf. Obs.
c. 1506. Plumpton Corr., 201. Ye be aboutward against all right to imbarr & exclud my Chapleyn.
1562. Apol. Priv. Masse (1850), 9. Embarring none to communicate with him.
1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 11. To imbarre the people from reading and vnderstanding of the Scriptures.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Pref. The Church doth it … not to embarre them from the true knowledge of Christ.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 107. What reason embars theym, soom forreyn countrye to ferret?
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1621), 107. So embarring them from all gouernment in the common wealth.
† b. To refuse, deny (something) to a person.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xvi. (1632), 837. The French made choise of the Burgundian to protect them, which could not be embarred to them.
† 4. To lay (persons or property) under embargo.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., I. i. 9. The English, whose goods were thereupon imbarr’d, and confiscate.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 79. The imbarring of all our Merchants in that kingdom.
† 5. To break inwards the bars of (a helmet). Obs.
1480. Caxton, Ovid’s Met., XII. x. But Achylles brake hys targe & his helme he embarred.
