Embark v.

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 sb.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.  Shaks., Hen. V., III. Prol. 5. You haue seene The well-appointed King at Douer Peer, Embarke his Royaltie.

1603.  Knolles, Hist. Turks (1631), 89. And thereupon embarking themselues with all things necessary.

1621.  Stat. Irel., 337. If … any master … doe permit … any person … to imbarque … any parcell.

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 March, 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. 182, marg. Such would be imbarked in the ship of fooles.

1642.  Rogers, Naaman, 31. The unregenerate soule … imbarkes her selfe in this error, by the conceit of her wealth, health, youth [etc.].

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. (1702), I. 206. He … embark’d himself in Publick employments. Ibid. (a. 1674), Life (1751), III. 956. Such an Alliance … as might embark them against France.

1742.  C. Middleton, Cicero, III. IX. 2. Age … rendered him wholly unfit … to embark himself in an affair so desperate.

1832.  Ht. Martineau, Hill & Valley, 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.

1683.  Temple, Mem., Wks. 1731, I. 456. The 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. 1826, X. 172–3. 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.

  Embark, var. IMBARK, Obs., to enclose in bark.