brace

I. verb (braced; bracing) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French bracer to embrace, from brace Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. archaic to fasten tightly ; bind 2. a. to prepare for use by making taut b. prepare, steel <

brace yourself for the shock

> c. invigorate, freshen 3. to turn (a sail yard) by means of a brace 4. a. to furnish or support with a brace <

heavily braced against the wind

> b. to make stronger ; reinforce 5. to put or plant firmly <

braces his foot in the stirrup

> 6. to waylay especially with demands or questions intransitive verb 1. to take heart — used with up 2. to get ready (as for an attack) II. noun (plural braces) Etymology: Middle English, clasp, pair, from Anglo-French, pair of arms, pair, support, from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium arm, from Greek brachiōn, from comparative of brachys short — more at brief Date: 14th century 1. something (as a clasp) that connects or fastens 2. or plural brace two of a kind ; pair <

several brace of quail

> 3. a crank-shaped instrument for turning a bit 4. something that transmits, directs, resists, or supports weight or pressure: as a. a diagonal piece of structural material that serves to strengthen something (as a framework) b. a rope rove through a block at the end of a ship's yard to swing it horizontally c. plural suspenders d. an appliance for supporting a body part e. plural an orthodontic appliance usually of metallic wire that is used especially to exert pressure to straighten misaligned teeth 5. a. one of two marks { } used to connect words or items to be considered together b. one of these marks connecting two or more musical staffs carrying parts to be performed simultaneously c. bracket 3a 6. a position of rigid attention 7. something that arouses energy or strengthens morale