embosom

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   literary: to enclose, surround, or shelter something closely

   Ancient trees embosom the quiet house on every side.

2. 2
   verb

   archaic: to take to one's bosom; to embrace, cherish, or hold close

   The grieving mother longed to embosom her child once more.

Formed in the late sixteenth century from em-, a form of en- meaning 'put into or within,' + bosom. Bosom descends from Old English bosm, 'breast or chest.' The image of holding something against the breast broadened to cherishing it and then to enclosing or sheltering it closely.

Topics