Debarrass

/ˌdɛbəˈræs/ verb

Definition

To free someone from embarrassment or to unencumber; to clear of obstacles or problems.

Etymology

From prefix de- + embarrass (to hinder or confuse). This word follows the standard pattern of creating opposite actions with the de- prefix, though it is extremely rare in modern English.

Kelly Says

Debarrass is so rarely used that most people would never encounter it, yet it perfectly demonstrates English's creative word-building capacity—if we can embarrass someone, logically we should be able to debarrass them.

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