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.
Quotation dates: 1375-1438, 1499-1533
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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 Legends of the Saints 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 1513 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 1533 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? 1513 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 1513 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 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 629.
The ȝaip ȝeman to the ȝet is gane; Enbraissit the bandis beliue, or that he wald blin
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"Enbrace v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/enbrace>
