imbrue

[ im-broo ]

verb (used with object)

, im·brued, im·bru·ing.

1. to stain:

   He refused to imbrue his hands with the blood of more killing.

2. to impregnate or imbue (usually followed by with or in ):

   They are imbrued with the follies of youth.

imbrue

/ ɪmˈbruː /

verb

1. to stain, esp with blood
2. to permeate or impregnate

Derived Forms

• imˈbruement, noun

Other Words From

• im·bruement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbrue¹

1400–50; late Middle English enbrewen < Middle French embreuver to cause to drink in, soak, drench < Vulgar Latin *imbiberāre, derivative of Latin imbibere to imbibe

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbrue¹

C15: from Old French embreuver, from Latin imbibere imbibe

Example Sentences

Then he charged me as an enemy to the King, that I endeavoured to raise a new war, and imbrue the nation in blood again.

From Project Gutenberg

But our young men are resolved to imbrue their hands in the blood of the whites.

From Project Gutenberg

I would sooner imbrue my hands in his blood, than that you should!

From Project Gutenberg

He told Burke that he wondered above all things how he could imbrue his hands in the blood of Daft Jamie.

From Project Gutenberg

He dared not accede to a motion, by which we were to continue for seven years to imbrue our hands in innocent blood.

From Project Gutenberg