embroider

Meaning

Verb

• To stitch a decorative design on fabric with needle and thread of various colours.
• To add imaginary detail to a narrative to make it more interesting or acceptable.

Origin

• From Middle English embroudren, frequentative of embrouden, from Anglo-Norman embrouder, intensive of brosder, brouder (compare Norman broudaïr), from Gothic *𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌶𐌳𐍉𐌽, blend of *bursta and *brordōn (compare Old High German brortōn). More at bristle and brad.