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 sb.1 (Cf. ENBATAILE, adv.)]
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 ye 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., 23. Every private man 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; enbataild wyþ queynte engynne.
1598. Yong, Diana, 152. The Temples were many, and sumptuous, the houses strong, 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.
