Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#103095 05/11/03 10:26 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1
L
LaEle Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
L
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1
Hello......I was wondering whether anyone out there knows the meaning of the word debarassed, if that is how it is spelled. I came across this strange word in a book called Jane Eyre, and have not been able to decipher its exact meaning. It is not in any dictionary that I have checked. Help would be appreciated. :)


#103096 05/11/03 10:45 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
welcome, La!

onelook came up with this: (though I had to use the deba* trick...)

http://www.onelook.com/?w=debarrass

Quick definitions (debarrass)
(v. t.) To disembarrass; to relieve.
(This definition is from the 1913 Webster's Dictionary and may be outdated.)

does that fit the context?







formerly known as etaoin...
#103097 05/12/03 01:49 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
...
Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte. ... me in any other light than as a nuisance; to-night I hailed the first deep notes with satisfaction; I was debarrassed of interruption ...

" I was not interrupted"


#103098 05/12/03 02:09 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
debarrass [a. F. débarrass-er,]
trans. To disembarrass; to disencumber from anything that embarrasses.
1789 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) III. 97 So as to debarrass themselves of this. 1792 W. Roberts Looker-on (1794) I. 390 To debarrass its motions, and to display its attractions. 1796 Ld. Sheffield in Ld. Auckland's Corr. (1862) III. 348 If the armies of France should be debarrassed from all other enemies. 1848 C. Brontë J. Eyre x, I was debarrassed of interruption. 1853 Reade Chr. Johnstone 165 Jean Carnie, who debarrassed her of certain wrappers.
[OED2]



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (wofahulicodoc), 755 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,539
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5