Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Embrace, Embras(e, v. Also: embrasse, -brais, -braice, embress-. [ME. embrace (c 1300), OF. embracer. Cf. Enbrace and Inbrace.]

1. tr. To put (a shield) on the arm.The spellings are probably only those of the print (c 1580), replacing an original enbrace. ?1438 Alex. i. 890.
The knychtis … lap on thair steidis styth, And embraissit thair scheldis swyth Ib. 1354.
The gude Emynedon Embraisit sadly his blason Ib. ii. 8730.
Auld Clarus … Embressit his sheild, his suerd he drew

2. To clasp in the arms. a1400 Leg. S. xlvi. 179.
Quhene he thocht thame til embrase Or til kyse ?1438 Alex. ii. 2052.
Ideas he embrased fast Ib. 4903.
Ane child him tald … How Cassamus … Embrased him full sturdely 1490 Irland Mir. I. 108/14.
Mercy & Verite for gret lust and tendirnes has embrasit vthere 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 86 (Sm.).
[Dido] gan embrace half deid hir sistir germane 1531 Bell. Boece I. 213.
Craithlint embrassit his eme Carance maist tenderly a1570-86 Maitl. F. cxxx. 150.
In to my armes swythe Embrasit I that blythe

3. To adopt or accept with readiness or pleasure; to undertake, take on hand. ?1438 Alex. i. 2886.
Bot he embraissit to great ane thing a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 390.
Sir Gawayne, … That euer wes beildit in blis, and bounte embrasit 1562-3 Winȝet I. 10/26.
That … we … mot knaw the veritie, and glaidlye and vnfenȝeitlie embrace the samyn Ib. 12/25.
Embraissyng … the faith of the starkast party a1570-86 Maitl. F. xxix. 25.
Scarslie wait I … Quhat till eschew or quhat till embrace 1596 Dalr. I. 176 h.
Heir the first of al the Scottis kingis embracet the faith of Christe

4. To encircle, surround, invest. ?1438 Alex. ii. 4073.
The pray out past; The fourriouris it embraissit fast c1450-2 Howlat 400.
On ilk beugh till embrace, Writtin in a bill was, O Dowglas, O Dowglas 1513 Doug. xi. Prol. 104.
In cheryte thy body all embrace, And of devoit oryson mak thy brand