transitive verb

1. to cause to feel self-conscious, confused, and ill at ease; disconcert; fluster
2. to cause difficulties to; hinder; impede
3. to cause to be in debt; cause financial difficulties to
4. to make more difficult; complicate

Etymology: Fr embarrasser, lit., to encumber, obstruct < Sp embarazar < It imbarrazzare < imbarrare, to bar, impede < in- (L in-) + ML barra, bar