embarrass

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
embarrass /ɪmˈbarəs, ɛm-/

▶verb

• 1 cause to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.

  ■ (be embarrassed) be caused financial difficulties.

• 2 archaic hamper or impede.

– derivatives
embarrassed adjective,
embarrassedly adverb,
embarrassing adjective,
embarrassingly adverb.

– origin C17: from Fr. embarrasser, from Sp. embarazar, prob. from Port. embaraçar (from baraço ‘halter’).