Nearby Words

embrace

[em-breys] Example Sentences Origin

em·brace

1[em-breys] verb, -braced, -brac·ing, noun
verb (used with object)
1.
to take or clasp in the arms; press to the bosom; hug.
2.
to take or receive gladly or eagerly; accept willingly: to embrace an idea.
3.
to avail oneself of: to embrace an opportunity.
4.
to adopt (a profession, a religion, etc.): to embrace Buddhism.
5.
to take in with the eye or the mind.
EXPAND
6.
to encircle; surround; enclose.
7.
to include or contain: An encyclopedia embraces a great number of subjects.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
8.
to join in an embrace.

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Embrace is one of our favorite verbs.
So is subtilize. Does it mean:
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
noun
9.
an act or instance of embracing.

Origin:
1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French embracier, equivalent to em- em-1 + bracier to embrace, derivative of brace the two arms; see brace

em·brace·a·ble, adjective
em·brace·ment, noun
em·brac·er, noun
un·em·brace·a·ble, adjective


2. adopt, espouse, welcome. 3. seize. 7. comprise, cover, embody. See include.


7. exclude.

Example Sentences
  • Artists and musicians embrace the Net, despite legal issues.
  • We should all embrace that concept.
  • The big ship creaked and groaned as she descended, her steel hull actually being compressed by the sea's embrace.
EXPAND
Dictionary.com Unabridged

em·brace

2[em-breys]
verb (used with object), -braced, -brac·ing. Law.
to attempt to influence (a judge or jury) through corrupt means.

Origin:
1400–1450; late Middle English: to influence, prejudice, bribe (a jury), perhaps the same word as embrace1, influenced by embrasen to set on fire (< Middle French embraser; see em-1, braise)

em·brac·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To embrace
Collins
World English Dictionary
embrace1 (ɪmˈbreɪs)
 
vb
1.  (also intr) (of a person) to take or clasp (another person) in the arms, or (of two people) to clasp each other, as in affection, greeting, etc; hug
2.  to accept (an opportunity, challenge, etc) willingly or eagerly
3.  to take up (a new idea, faith, etc); adopt: to embrace Judaism
4.  to comprise or include as an integral part: geology embraces the science of mineralogy
5.  to encircle or enclose
 
n
6.  the act of embracing
7.  euphemistic (often plural) sexual intercourse
 
[C14: from Old French embracier, from em- + brace a pair of arms, from Latin bracchia arms]
 
em'braceable1
 
adj
 
em'bracement1
 
n
 
em'bracer1
 
n

embrace2 (ɪmˈbreɪs)
 
vb
(tr) criminal law to commit or attempt to commit embracery against (a jury, etc)
 
[C15: back formation from embraceor]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

embrace
c.1300, from O.Fr. embracer "clasp in the arms, enclose," from en- "in" + brace "the arms," from L. bracchium (neut. pl. brachia). Replaced O.E. clyppan, also fæðm.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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