imbroglio English · revision 1327

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪmˈbɹəʊljəʊ/ ''(UK)''; /ɪmˈbɹoʊljoʊ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|imbroglio|t=confusion]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''imbrogliare'' “to entangle, confuse”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''in-'' and ''brogliare'' “to embroil”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) probably from French ''brouiller'' “to confuse”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[embroil]] and [[broil]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A confused heap or jumble (1750).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From 1818 the word meant a state of great confusion and entanglement, a complicated situation or misunderstanding, especially in politics or drama.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) This is now the main sense.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1750 – a confused heap.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1818 – a complicated, entangled situation.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A complicated, confused or embarrassing situation; an [[entanglement]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A confused or bitter disagreement, as between people or nations.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A confused heap; a tangle.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[embroil]]

+ * [[broil]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}