▪ I. embrace, n.
(ɛmˈbreɪs)
[f. embrace v.2]
1. The action of folding in the arms, of pressing to the bosom. (Sometimes euphemistically for sexual intercourse.)
| 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 113 Armes, take your last embrace. 1633 P. Fletcher Elisa ii. v, Arms, whose..sweet embraces Could quicken death. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 793 In embraces forcible and foule Ingendring with me. 1750 Johnson Rambl. No. 91 ¶7 Pride..by whose embraces she had two daughters. 1810 Southey Kehama xvii. ix, She turn'd from him, to meet..The Glendoveer's embrace. 1865 Trollope Belton Est. xxiii. 273 The demonstrative affection of an embrace between the two women. |
2. transf. and fig.
| a 1628 Sir J. Beaumont Mis. State Man, The soule perswaded that no fading loue Can equall her imbraces. 1634 Habington Castara 75 Their streames thus Rivers joyne, And lose themselves in the embrace. 1665 Glanvill Sceps. Sc., Offering themselves to its [Truth's] embraces. 1856 Stanley Sinai & Pal. (1858) Introd. 42 Rocks..enclosing, in a still narrower and narrower embrace, a valley. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. ii. ii. §12 The most perfect combination of perceiving organs is the embrace of the two hands. |
▪ II. † emˈbrace, v.1 Obs. rare.
Also 4 enbrase, -ass, -brace, 6 imbrace.
[f. en- + Fr. bras arm: see brace n.1]
trans. To put (a shield) on the arm.
| c 1300 K. Alis. 6651 His scheld enbraceth Antiocus. 1375 Barbour Bruce viii. 295 Enbrasit vith that thar scheldis braid. c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 5539 With scheldes enbraced. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 4111 Whene Bretones boldly enbraces there scheldes. Ibid. 2459 With brode scheldes enbrassede. 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie 50 Did baisse his gleaue and well imbrace his shield. |
▪ III. embrace, v.2
(ɛmˈbreɪs)
Forms: 4–5 enbrace, 4–6 embrase, 4– embrace. Also 5–6 imbrase, 6– 8 imbrace.
[ad. OF. embrace-r (F. embrasser) = Pr. embrassar, It. imbracciare:—late L. *imbracchiāre, f. in- in + bracchium (pl. bracchia see brace n.2) arm.]
1. trans. To clasp in the arms, usually as a sign of fondness or friendship.
| c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 95 The frere..her embracith in his armes narwe. c 1450 Lonelich Grail App. 81 This lady..him enbraced al in hire slepe. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 268 The lordis..Imbrasit thame that tyme full tenderly. 1535 Coverdale 2 Kings iv. 16 Aboute this tyme yf y⊇ frute can lyue, thou shalt enbrace a sonne. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. i. 950 Lovers, when th' are fast In one another's Arms embrac'd. 1845 Ford Spain §1. 46 Many a Sancho..is there fondling and embracing his ass. |
| fig. c 1386 Chaucer Pars. T. ¶193 The riche folk that embraceden and oneden al hire herte to tresor of this world shul slepe in..deeth. 1635 A. Stafford Fem. Glory (1869) 132 Worship their Messias, and imbrace Him in their hearts. 1698 Norris Pract. Disc. IV. 216 Let us..Hug and Imbrace them [earthly things] never so dearly. |
b. Of sexual embraces.
| 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iv. i. 50 You will say, she did imbrace me as a husband. 1660 R. Coke Power & Subj. 168 On other days they [certain penitents] may eat any meat but flesh, and imbrace their own wedlock. |
† c. As the typical mode of salutation between friends; to salute as a friend. Obs.
| 1707 Freind Peterboro's Cond. Sp. 174, I hope to embrace you in a few Days. 1747 Hoadley Susp. Husb. i. iii. (1756) 12 Any..Friend of my Frankly's I am proud of embracing. |
d. absol. (Chiefly with reciprocal sense.)
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 4820 Disordinat desiryng For to kissen & enbrace. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 407/3 Thenne eche kyssed other and enbraced straytelye. 1596 Warner Alb. Eng. ii. xvi. 76 When they had imbraced Then Archigallo..in Ebranks Towne was plac'd. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 636 Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace, Total they mix. 1719 Young Revenge iv. i, Two lovers in each other's arms, Embracing and embrac'd. 1855 Kingsley Heroes iv. (1868) 252 They loved each other, and embraced. |
2. In various figurative uses. † a. To compass, gain (an object of desire).
| 1475 Caxton Jason 20 b, A lady to sone abandonned and given ouer embraceth not grete honour. 14.. Legendary Poem in Retrosp. Rev. Nov. (1853) 102 With..penaunce smerte They wene ther blys for to imbrase [printed unbrase]. |
† b. To worship (a deity). Obs. rare.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos viii. 37 Temples and aultres in whiche she sholde be enbraced and honowred as a goddesse. |
† c. To accept (a person) as a friend; to welcome the services of (a person).
| 1607 Shakes. Cor. iv. vii. 10 He beares himselfe more proudlier..then I thought he would When first I did embrace him. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Hist. Jas. V Wks. (1711) 83 He wrought himself..to be imbraced as their friend. 1607 Tourneur Rev. Trag. B 4 Wert thou as secret as thou'rt subtil..I would embrace thee for a neere imployment. 1635 [cf. 1 a. fig.]. |
d. To accept gladly or eagerly; also, in weaker sense, to accept; now chiefly, to avail oneself of (an offer, opportunity, etc.).
| c 1399 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 12 Y hope of king Henries grace, That he it is which schal the pes embrace. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. ii. (1883) 11 The communes..imbracinge a licence, refuse to be brydled. 1582 Earl of Essex in Ellis Orig. Lett. ii. 213 III. 80, I can not but embrace with duty your Lordships good counsell. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. i. 13 Embrace we then this opportunitie. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. viii. 32 The worke is ever to be embraced, as containing the first description of poysons and their Antidotes. 1647 Sprigge Anglia Rediv. ii. iv. (1854) 119 The general sent the prince word that he would embrace a parley. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 189 The captain..embraced this offer. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. iv. iii. 107 One alternative; that of embracing the neutrality. 1839 W. Chambers Tour Holland 62/1, I will embrace the opportunity of making a few general remarks. |
e. To accept, submit to (death, adverse fortune) with resignation or fortitude.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 126 Thurio give backe, or else embrace thy death. 1598 ― Merry W. v. v. 251 What cannot be eschew'd, must be embrac'd. 1672 Cave Prim. Chr. i. x. 111 They readily embrace death. 1711 Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) II. 106 Even death it-self voluntarily imbrac'd. 1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle L. vi. 137 Embracing with joy all its sufferings and privations. |
† f. To take to one's heart, cultivate (a virtue, disposition, etc.). Obs.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 143 He shulde of trouthe thilke grace With all his hole herte embrace. 1576 in Farr S.P. Eliz. (1845) II. 291 Of Christes flock let loue be so embraste. 1623 Sir J. Stradling in Farr S.P. Jas. (1848) 232 What good peace (if we it imbrace) will doe vs. |
g. To adopt (a course of action, profession or calling, mode of life). Formerly also, to take (a road or course in travelling).
| 1639 Fuller Holy War xv. (1647) 22 They embraced severall courses through sundry countreys. 1655 ― Ch. Hist. viii. 13 Captain Vaughan..embraced the right-hand way towards Westminster. 1768 Goldsm. Good-n. Man i. i, Being compelled..to embrace a life you disliked. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xv, What fiend possessed you to..embrace the trade of a damsel adventurous. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xvii. 89 The..home of those..who embraced the monastic life. |
h. To adopt (a doctrine, opinions, religion, etc.); often with the notion ‘to accept joyfully’. Also, to attach oneself to (a party, cause, etc.).
| 1545 Brinklow Lament. (1874) 120 Repent and beleue the Gospell in embrasynge the same. 1553 Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 41 Foure of the greatest Ilandes embrased the Christian faith. 1646 E. F[isher] Mod. Divinity 71 This opinion was..generally imbraced amongst them. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 269 By embracing Christ and his Doctrine, the believing Jews did not turn to a new Religion. 1720 Ozell Vertot's Rom. Rep. II. xiv. 334 Cæsar gave him the choice either to embrace his Party, or to continue his March. 1743 J. Morris Sermons viii. 214 So may they..heartily imbrace the truth. 1845 S. Austin tr. Ranke's Hist. Ref. I. 75 The two princes embraced..different parties. 1867 Smiles Huguenots Eng. iii. (1880) 38 Palissy was not the only man of genius in France who embraced the Reformed faith. |
† i. To take (a matter) in hand; to undertake.
| 1393 Gower Conf. Prol. 90 So wol I now this werke embrace. 1552 Huloet Embrace anothers accion or title, Litem propriam vel suam facere. 1597 Bacon Ess. Sutes (Arb.) 40 Some embrace Sutes, which neuer meane to deale effectually in them. 1670–1 Marvell Corr. 183 Wks. (1872–5) II. 374 The Duke..had embraced this matter. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. vi. 559 When the wisdom of parliament embraced the subject of the government of India. |
3. To entwine, encircle, surround; to clasp, enclose. lit. and fig.
| c 1360 Song of Mercy in E.E.P. (1862) 122 Wormes blake wol vs enbrace. 14.. Purif. Marie (Tundale's Vis. 130) The passyng joy that can hys hart enbrace. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (1835) 44 b, Here that is of grace the welle Of hyr wombe sche [the mother of the Virgin Mary] dede enbrace. 1535 Coverdale Song Sol. ii. 6 His right hande embraceth me. 1607 Shakes. Cor. v. ii. 7 You'l see your Rome embrac'd with fire. 1704 Addison Italy (1733) 40 The whole Town redoubled Walls embrace. 1796 Withering Arrangem. Brit. Pl. III. 56 Leaves arrow-shaped at the base, embracing the stem. 1802 Playfair Illustr. Hutton. The. 298 It is on both sides firmly embraced by the whinstone. 1884 Times (weekly ed.) 29 Aug. 14/1 The woods, embracing lawns and sloping corn fields. |
† b. Of an event: ? To lay hold upon, touch (the heart). Obs. rare.
| c 1430 Lydgate Bochas' Falles of Princes II. xxvi. (1554) 62 This auenture..The heart of Cyrus gan somewhat enbrace And caused him for to be piteous Ageine Cresus. |
† c. intr. To wrap, circle about. Obs.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens 388 The blacke Ivie..groweth upon trees and hedges, about the whiche it embraceth. |
4. Of things: To include, contain, comprise. So of persons: To include or comprise in.
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 60 Not that my Song..So large a Subject fully can embrace. 1825 Cobbett Rur. Rides 408 Thus the two classes embrace all legitimate merchants. 1846 Prescott Ferd. & Is. II. xix. 181 The other productions of this indefatigable scholar embrace a large circle of topics. 1860 Tyndall Glac. i. §4. 33 The time occupied..embraced about five whole days. 1885 F. Temple Relat. Relig. & Sc. vii. 196 Some of these events..are substantive facts embraced in the message delivered. Mod. It is impossible to embrace all the cases in a single formula. |
5. To take in with the eye or the mind; also with these as subject.
| 1831 Brewster Newton (1855) II. xxiv. 356 The..distance..which his eye can embrace on the surface of the earth. 1853 H. Rogers Ecl. Faith 308 Religious truth..is embraced by the understanding. 1877 E. Conder Bas. Faith ii. 69 The infinite..the intellect can seize though not embrace. 1884 Times (weekly ed.) 19 Sept. 5/3 You embrace the whole broad panorama of wood and water. |
Add: [1.] e. trans. To kiss, esp. on the cheek. (A gallicism.)
| 1960 A. Duggan Family Favourites vii. 125 Instead of returning a military salute he would give his hand to be kissed by the sentry; if he was pleased with me he would embrace me on both cheeks. 1969 J. Fowles French Lieutenant's Woman xxxiv. 256 He could not bring himself to kiss her on the mouth. So he grasped her shoulders and lightly embraced her on both temples. 1978 B. Bainbridge Young Adolf xviii. 105 But for inhibitions he would, out of sheer gratitude, have embraced Meyer on both cheeks. |
▪ IV. embrace, v.3 Law.
(ɛmˈbreɪs)
[apparently a back-formation from the agent-noun embracer2.]
trans. To attempt to influence (a juryman, etc.) corruptly and illegally. Also absol.
| 1475 Bk. Noblesse 77 Also there to embrace and rule among youre pore. 1591 Lambarde Arch. (1635) 202 That if any person shall (for his owne gaine) embrace any Jurie or Inquest. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. 140 The punishment for the person embracing is by fine and imprisonment. 1809 in Tomlins Law Dict. |
▪ V. † emˈbrace, v.4 Obs.
Also 4 imbrace, 6 enbrace, -se.
[f. en- + brace n.2]
trans. To fix with a brace or buckle; to fasten, fit close.
[Perh. suggested by a misapprehension of embrace v.1]
| ? c 1475 Sqr. lowe Degre 227 in Ritson Met. Rom. III. 154 Your plates unto your body shal be enbraste. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xxvii. lxv, And to his legge he my stede enbraced. 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. i. 26 Who..His warlike armes about him gan embrace. |