Middle English Dictionary Entry
brācen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | brācen v.(1) Also bras(e. P. brāced, brāste, (in rime) brāce. |
| Etymology | OF bracier |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To clasp (sb.) in one's arms, embrace; ~ in armes; (b) to seize or grasp (sb. or sth.); (c) to take (sth.); ~ in honde, take (sth.) in hand, engage in (a task).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)204/14 : When Ihesu, þi Sun, of þe was bore, Fol nyȝ þi brest þou con Him brace.
- c1440 When adam delf (Thrn)92 : To graue when þat þou gase, A grysely geste þan bese þou preste In armes for to brace [vr. enbrase].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)19.59 : Thanne sire Nasciens Gan hire to Chere, And brased hire In his Armes two.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)7295 : Artheur jn his armes Antron gan brace.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13810 : He dessyrit..þat bright for to bras in his big armes.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)25 : He..Bracyd hir by the myddill & made hir gladly chere.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)357/19 : Than they arose bothe, and braced eythir othir in there armys.
- a1500(a1450) Parton.(1) (Add 35288)1563 : Ganne he In hys armes her faste to hym brase.
b
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)554 : Þat oþer broþer he gan brace Under his riȝt arm þo. He þrew him in þat place.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)914 : He bracez a brade schelde.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)472 : He brasede his Schelde.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)191 : At þe last þe kyng hir braaste; In to þe thik wodde he haaste And þar..Rauyst hir.
c
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2110 : Outhir he prayed in priue place, Or some wark in hande he brace.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4240 : When monkes fande cuthberts body..Parte of his hare þai brace, And for reliks to frendis þai gaue.
2.
(a) To wrap (sth.), enshroud; (b) to tie up or fetter (sb.); braced in, hemmed in; (c) to join or fasten (one thing to another), fasten (together); -- with on, to, togedere; bracing eie, a loop or ring (of a horse's harness); (d) to impale or plant (sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)265 : A blodi cloþ..he was inne i-braced, whon he lay..in þe sepulcre.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)3448 : Ȝe sall my body wynde In clene sendale..Þar in my body sal be braste.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6084 : His cote was na thing rent, Þat his body brace.
b
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)380 : Appolin is bounden and braset so faste, he may not speke a word.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)291/526 : That warlowe ye warrok and wraste, And loke þat he brymly be braste.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)457/7 : These were ledde to the Compters, braced as though they had be felons.
- (1472) Paston (Gairdner)5.156 : I was in goode hope she sholde ber a fayr chylde; he [the fetus] was nott lacyd nor bracyd ine to hys peyn.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)299 : Myscheff wyll be redy to brace yow in hys brydyll.
c
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)55 : Þe trays wyþ þe brasyng eye [F braserole] þat þyȝe lymoms brasyþ to gedere.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)17a/a : Consero: to brasyn.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)34a(2)/b : Incero: to plonte in to gedre or brace to gedre.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)95/20 : He gers make castelles and brace þam on þe olyfauntes.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2274 : He wald his harnays to him brace, And euen harnast as he was, So all þe ȝere forth walde he passe.
d
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1182 : Stryke of his heuede..and brace it in yryne, And sett it on the barbycane.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)204/22 : Stryke of his hede..And aftir..lette brace hit on a barbycan.
3.
To extend, stretch; ~ forth, radiate.
Associated quotations
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)46 : Bracyn or sette streyte: Tendo.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)123/13 : Þe prince of planetis..Sall brace furth his bemes.
4.
(a) To strengthen or comfort (sb.); (b) refl.?brace oneself (for a task); ?cling (to sth.).
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)1291 : The inward myrþe dide hir hertis brace.
b
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)359 : I wil forsake al my synnes..Yete out my praieres in his siht, & to his loue me brace.