Etymology

Middle French esmoy, from Old French esmai ‎(“confusion, agitation caused by fear”), from esmaier ‎(“to worry, scare, vex, dismay”), from Vulgar Latin *exmagare ‎(“to deprive (someone) of strength, to disable”), from ex- + *magare ‎(“to enable, empower”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą, *maganą ‎(“might, power”), from Proto-Indo-European *mēgh- ‎(“to be able”). Akin to Old High German magan, megin ‎(“power, might, main”), Old English mæġen ‎(“might, main”), Old English magan ‎(“to be able to”). More at main, may.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /emwa/