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<p>This triggered a memory. In Charles Dickens's <i>Sketches by Boz</i>,
the verb to emboss is used three times. In two cases that which is
embossed clearly stands out rather than sinks in. But then there
is this example.</p>
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<p>"He [a small child] had a light blue cap with a gold band and
tassel on his head, and a damp piece of gingerbread in his hand,
with which he had slightly embossed his countenance." ("The Steam
Excursion")</p>
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<p>Of course, if the child has pressed his face into the cake, there
may well be a convex image on one side of it and a concave one on
the other side. However for me the primary image is that of a
depression, rather than a raised impression. Whatever the case,
it's a wonderful piece of Dickensian observation I think!<br>
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<p>Jeremy H<br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 22.04.2020 18:38, Clark, Hilary
wrote:<br>
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cite="mid:YQBPR0101MB1379A675936717956A0FCA47F7D20@YQBPR0101MB1379.CANPRD01.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM">
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<span>A hollow, but also a hump: French "bosse" means hump. </span></div>
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<span>In English, "to emboss" is "<span style="display: inline
!important; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color:
rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia,Times,"Times New
Roman",serif; font-size: 1.23em; font-weight: normal;
line-height: 1.35"><font size="3"
face="Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif">t</font></span><span
style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal;
font-weight: normal; display: inline !important;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font
face="Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif">o cause to bulge or
swell out, make convex or protuberant" (OED online).</font></span></span></div>
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<div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);
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<span>Hilary Clark</span></div>
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