Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “embellir” come from?

embellir (Old French) comes from Old French bel, from Latin bellus, from Latin villus, from Latin vellus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- — to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool.

embellir (Old French): to make prettier; to make more attractive; to...

Definitions

  1. to make prettier; to make more attractive; to...

Ancestry of “embellir”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchbelAlternative form of biau; good, pretty
2Latinbellusbeautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,...
3Latinvillushair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair
4LatinvellusThe wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool

Words derived from “embellir”

  • embellishment
  • embellish
  • embellishing
  • embellisher
  • overembellish
  • overembellishment
  • disembellish
  • embellishable
  • embellishingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- →