v. [f. EN-, IN- + BODY sb. The form imbody is the only one recognized in Bailey and Johnson (though the latter uses embody s.v. Incorporate), but is now less usual.]
1. trans. To put into a body; to invest or clothe (a spirit) with a body.
α. 1548. Gest, Pr. Masse, 86. No more then the sayd holy ghost is adjudged embodied or enharted.
a. 1699. Bonnell, in W. Hamilton, Life (1703), II. 134. My Saviour Impregnated the Consecrated Elements, and in a manner Embody’d himself there.
1727. De Foe, Hist. Appar., iv. (1840), 26. Whether are there any spirits inhabiting the visible world, which have never yet been embodied.
1729. T. Cooke, Tales, Proposals, etc. 44. Would She embody’d to thy Arms return?
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls., II. 10. A pale, small person, scarcely embodied at all.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 291. In him the old scholastic spirit seems embodied again.
β. 1600. Heywood, 1 Edw. IV. (1874), I. 27. Such haughtie stomacks … Imbodied in the breasts of Citizens.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, 561. Devills beeing imbodyed in ayre can … moove it.
2. To impart a material, corporeal or sensual character to. rare. † Also intr. for refl.
1634. Milton, Comus, 468. The sole … Imbodies, and imbrutes, till she quite lose The divine property of her first being.
1652. S. Patrick, Fun. Serm., in J. Smith’s Sel. Disc., 555. Do not imbody and enervate your souls by idleness and base neglect.
1833. Fraser’s Mag., 575. Spirituality of mind enables them to conceive those mysteries with a pure devotion, without the danger of embodying and imbruting them.
3. To give a concrete form to (what is abstract or ideal); to express (principles, thoughts, intentions) in an institution, work of art, action, definite form of words, etc.
α. 1750. Johnson, Rambl., No. 168, ¶ 5. Poetry, that force … which embodies sentiment.
1815. Wellington, Gurw., Disp., XII. 455. I have not yet been able to embody in a treaty the principles of this arrangement.
1847. Grote, Greece, II. xlviii. (1862), IV. 267. The custom having been embodied in law.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, i. The blue coat and stiff white cravat which … embodied her idea of a father.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxiv. 615. A popular notion, embodied in a rhyming couplet.
β. 1742. Richardson, Pamela, IV. 111. What Words shall be found to imbody Air?
1846. Hawthorne, Mosses, I. v. 110. One century imbodied it in marble.
1859. Holland, Gold F., v. 74. When this conception is imbodied in an object of worship.
b. Of institutions, works of art, actions, forms of words, etc.: To be an embodiment or expression of (an idea, principle, etc.).
1876. Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., II. 64. This house … was to embody her idea of home.
4. To cause to become part of a body; to unite into one body; to incorporate (a thing) in a mass of material, (particular elements) in a system or complex unity.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 173. For I by vow am so embodied yours.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, IV. (1723), 192. We shall meet with the same Metall or Mineral embody’d in Stone.
1724. A. Collins, Gr. Chr. Relig., 190. The apostate Jews, among whom … some of the Samaritans … became embody’d.
1799. Mackintosh, Stud. Law Nat., Wks. 1846, I. 385. Yet so much of these treaties has been embodied into the general law of Europe.
† b. intr. for refl. Obs.
1692. trans. Sallust, 8. Incredible it is to think how easily they [different tribes] embody’d.
c. trans. Of a complex unity: To include, comprise (such or such elements).
1847. Medwin, Shelley, I. 29. Blue books … embodied stories of haunted castles, bandits, murderers.
1869. Daily News, 18 Dec., 5/2. The measure embodies of course the six points of the League’s educational charter.
1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. iv. 198. Mahometanism certainly … embodies in it some ancient and momentous truths.
† 5. Chem. and Phys. a. trans. To form into one body. b. intr. for refl. To coalesce, draw together, solidify. Obs.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys.-Mech., xxxv. 264. The Bubbles … imbodyed themselves … into one.
1662. H. Stubbe, Ind. Nectar, iii. 26. These Corpuscles did never embody into greater quantities.
1677. W. Harris, trans. Lemery’s Course Chym., I. xvi. (1686), 376. The spirit of wine being a sulphur does unite and imbody with those that remain.
1682. J. Collins, Making Salt Eng., 54–5. It will naturally Embody in the Sun, and become a substance like Salt.
1709. Brit. Apollo, II. No. 12. 2/2. An Alimentary Liquor … doth embody with the Blood.
1710. T. Fuller, Pharm. Extemp., 27. Heating the Oils a little … adding the oil of Vitriol … and stirring ’till all are embodied together.
6. trans. To form into a body or company for military or other purposes; to organize.
1649. Selden, Laws Eng., II. xi. (1739), 63. The Army is ever embodied within the Kingdom.
a. 1656. Vines, Lord’s Supp. (1677), 265. Holy persons might … embody themselves into a Church.
1779. T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 218. The troops were never before so healthy since they were embodied.
1838–42. Arnold, Hist. Rome, III. xliv. 201. Livius … embodied the population of the town.
1873. Burton, Hist. Scot., VI. lxx. 174. The forces … may now be considered as embodied against each other.
b. intr. for refl. To form or join a body or company for military or other purposes.
1648. Cromwell, Lett., 20 Aug. (Carlyle). I have … ordered Colonel Scroop with five troops of horse and two troops of dragoons, with two regiments of foot, to embody with them.
1661. Lond. Allarum, 3. They had secretly entred into a Combination … to meet and imbody at their appointed Rendevouz.
1681. Moores Baffled, 16. [He] commanded the Horse to Embody within the Lines.
1770. Burke, Pres. Discont., Wks. 1842, I. 133. Firmly to embody against this court party.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 669. The tories … embodied in armed parties.
7. trans. To impart ‘body’ to (painting); to paint with a full body of color.
1784. J. Barry, Lect. Art, vi. (1848), 223. His [Vandyck’s] lights are … well embodied with colour.
Hence Embodying vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1676. W. Row, Contn. Blair’s Autobiog., xi. (1848), 291. The embodying of Scotland into one commonwealth with England.
1677. Earl Orrery, Art of War, 182. To prevent all considerable Imbodyings to resist him.
1784. J. Barry, Lect. Art, vi. (1848), 223. All that … embodying of colour … may be given as you go on.
1791. Phil. Trans., LXXXI. 179. Water is the embodying principle of all elastic fluids.
