What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Entail vs Embody - What's the difference?

entail | embody |

In transitive terms the difference between entail and embody

is that entail is to settle or fix inalienably on a person or thing, or on a person and his descendants or a certain line of descendants; -- said especially of an estate; to bestow as a heritage while embody is to include or represent, especially as part of a cohesive whole.

As a noun entail

is that which is entailed. Hence.

entail

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To imply or require.
    • This activity will entail careful attention to detail.
  • To settle or fix inalienably on a person or thing, or on a person and his descendants or a certain line of descendants; -- said especially of an estate; to bestow as a heritage.
  • * Allowing them to entail their estates. — .
  • * I here entail The crown to thee and to thine heirs forever. — Shakespeare
  • (obsolete) To appoint hereditary possessor.
  • * To entail him and his heirs unto the crown. — Shakespeare
  • (obsolete) To cut or carve in an ornamental way.
  • * Entailed with curious antics. — .

    • Derived terms

    * entailment

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which is entailed. Hence:
    • An estate in fee entailed, or limited in descent to a particular class of issue.
    The rule by which the descent is fixed.
  • * A power of breaking the ancient entails, and of alienating their estates. — .
  • (obsolete) Delicately carved ornamental work; intaglio.
  • * A work of rich entail. — .

    • References

    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    *

    embody

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To represent in a physical form; to incarnate or personify
    • As the car salesman approached, wearing a plaid suit and slicked-back hair, he seemed to embody sleaze.
  • * South
    • The soul, while it is embodied , can no more be divided from sin.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=The generational shift Mr. Obama once embodied is, in fact, well under way, but it will not change Washington as quickly — or as harmoniously — as a lot of voters once hoped.}}
  • To include or represent, especially as part of a cohesive whole
    • The US Constitution aimed to embody the ideals of diverse groups of people, from Puritans to Deists.
    The principle was recognized by some of the early Greek philosophers who embodied it in their systems.

    Derived terms

    * disembody * embodiment