ember

adj

Etymology: From Middle English embryne (“running around, circuit”), from Old English ymbryne (“course; circuit”). Spelling changed through folk etymology. By surface analysis, umb- + run.

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.

   “ember fasts”

   “ember days”

name

1. A unisex given name.

   “This conversation took place at an advertising agency between an American copywriter named Ember (E), and one of his Japanese co-workers named Nakada (N).”

   “In this section, a straightforward and attractive character named Ember, an academic colleague of Krug, is trying to distract his friend from brooding upon the death of his wife.”

noun

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 (“pyre”), Danish emmer, Swedish mörja (“embers”).

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