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ember

Pronunciation: /ˈɛm.bə/

The English word “ember” has 3 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A piece of coal or wood glowing by heat; a hot coal.
  2. Smoldering ash.

adjective

  1. Making a circuit of the year or the seasons; recurring in each quarter of the year, as certain religious days set apart for fasting and prayer.

Etymology

From Middle English embre, eymbre, aymer, eymere, emeri, from Old English ǣmyrġe, from Proto-West Germanic *aimuʀjā, from Proto-Germanic *aimuzjǭ, a compound of *aimaz + *uzjǭ. The latter is from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ews- (“to burn”). The b is intrusive and was added in English for ease of pronunciation when the vowel of the second syllable (y) disappeared. See also Old High German eimuria…

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