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Webster 1913 Edition

Imbroglio

Im-brogl′io

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Imbroglios
(#)
.
[Written also
embroglio
.]
[It. See 1st
Broil
, and cf.
Embroil
.]
1.
An intricate, complicated plot, as of a drama or work of fiction.
Wrestling to free itself from the baleful
imbroglio
.
Carlyle.

Definition 2024

imbroglio

imbroglio

See also: imbróglio and imbrogliò

English

Noun

imbroglio ‎(plural imbroglios or imbrogli)

  1. A complicated situation; an entanglement.

Synonyms

Translations

French

Etymology

From Italian imbroglio ‎(“tangle”), from imbrogliare ‎(“to tangle”), cognate with and probably from an earlier form of French embrouiller ‎(“muddle, embroil”), from em- ‎(“en-”) + brouiller.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.bʁɔ.ljo/

Noun

imbroglio m ‎(plural imbroglios)

  1. a complicated situation; an entanglement

Italian

Etymology

From imbrogliare ‎(“to tangle”), cognate with and probably from an earlier form of French embrouiller ‎(“muddle, embroil”), from em- ‎(“en-”) + brouiller.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /imˈbrɔʎʎo/
  • Hyphenation: im‧bro‧glio

Noun

imbroglio m ‎(plural imbrogli)

  1. tangle, entanglement, muddle, scrape
  2. cheat, swindle, trick, diddle, fraud

Synonyms

Related terms

Verb

imbroglio

  1. first-person singular present indicative of imbrogliare

Etymology

Borrowing from Italian imbroglio ‎(“tangle, entanglement, muddle”) (im-, alternative form of in- ‎(“prefix forming verbs denoting derivation”) + broglio ‎(“confusion; intrigue, fraud, rigging, stuffing”); see also imbrogliare ‎(“to tangle”)), cognate with and probably from an earlier form of French embrouiller ‎(“to embroil, muddle”) (em- ‎(“em-”), a form of en- ‎(“en-, prefix meaning ‘caused’”) + brouiller ‎(“to confuse, mix up”)).

Pronunciation

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