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

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

Enbrace, Enbrase, v. Also: enbrais, enbrays. [ME. enbrace (c 1360), var. of Embrace v.]

1. = Embrace v. 1. 1375 Barb. viii. 295.
The formast of his menȝe Enbrasit vith that thar scheldis braid ?1438 Alex. i. 2064.
Emynedus … sone enbraissit his sheild sa shene

2. = Embrace v. 2.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxi. 454.
He … hyre in armys racht, & hyre enbrasit with al his macht c1400 Troy-bk. i. 328.
He … hys lange armes twa betuene Enbrassit thame, as thai hys hade bene c1500-c1512 Dunb. iv. 83.
Schir Iohne the Ros enbrast hes he 1513 Doug. iv. xii. 87.
[Dido] gan enbrays half ded hir systir germane Ib. xi. xiv. 45.
He … With hys rycht arm can hys fa enbras 1531 Bell. Boece I. 167.
All the army began to enbras his image Id. Livy I. 61/22.
In the menetyme he embrasit his son 1533 Boece ix. x. 312 b.
Thir haly men departing fra Dounkeld athir enbraissing vthir with devote teris(b) c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 220.
New Acquyntance enbracit me a quhile 1513 Doug. v. xii. 142.
Quhat is the let I may the nocht enbrace? Ib. ix. v. 57.
Thus can he The richt handis and schulderis of bayth enbrace

3. To enclose, invest. 1513 Doug. i. x. 35.
This queyn … with flambe of amouris till enbrace Ib. v. vii. 73.
The stern Erix was wont … In that hard bellan hys brawnys to enbrace

4. App. an error for unbrace, undo. a1500 Rauf C. 629.
The ȝaip ȝeman to the ȝet is gane; Enbraissit the bandis beliue, or that he wald blin