See Also: brace(1)(dictionary)
Brace(medicine)
brace(4)(dictionary)
brace(3)(dictionary)
Brace(health)
brace(2)(dictionary)
brace 1, verb(dictionary)
rere-brace(dictionary)
brace 2, noun(dictionary)
Brace, Milwaukee(health)

brace(3) (iou)



brace verb1. ME.
[Old French bracier embrace, formed as BRACE noun1: later senses directly from BRACE noun1.]
I. verb trans.
Clasp, fasten up tight. ME.
Pope The adverse winds in leathern bags he brac'd.
Embrace. LME-L16.
Encompass, surround, encircle. LME.
T. Aird A flowing wood the middle mountain braced.
Make tight or tense. LME.
Shakespeare King John Even at hand a drum is ready brac'd That shall reverberate all as loud as thine.
Tense or give firmness or tone to (nerves, sinews, oneself, etc.); invigorate; fig. prepare mentally for a task, unwelcome intelligence, etc. (Foll. by up.) L15.
C. Thirlwall Nothing now remained but to brace every nerve for the battle. W. Golding He braced his hands, stiffening the muscles of his arms. D. Lodge Mentally, you brace yourself for the ending of a novel. K. M. E. Murray A few days change..would brace him up.
Fix, render firm, steady, set rigidly or firmly down (esp. by tightly binding); support. L18.
G. J. Whyte-Melville He braced his foot in the stirrup to afford a purchase for her ascent.
II. verb intrans.
Foll. by up: brace oneself; pull oneself together for an effort; take a drink for this purpose. Orig. US. E19.
bracing noun (a) the action of the verb; (b) an appliance or arrangement that braces: LME.
bracing ppl adjective that braces; esp. (of air, climate, etc.) invigorating: M18.