Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
verb (used with object), im·brued, im·bru·ing.
- to stain: He refused to imbrue his hands with the blood of more killing.
- to impregnate or imbue (usually followed by with or in): They are imbrued with the follies of youth.
verb -brues, -bruing or -brued (tr) rare
- to stain, esp with blood
- to permeate or impregnate
early 15c., “to soak, steep;” mid-15c., “to stain, soil,” from Old French embreuvere “to moisten,” a metathesis of embeuvrer, from em- (see im-) + -bevrer, ultimately from Latin bibere “to drink” (see imbibe). Or perhaps from Old French embroue “soiled,” ultimately from boue “mud, dirt.”