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

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Imbrace, Imbras(e, v. Also: imbraic(e, -brais, -breass(e, -brece, -brese. [Late ME. imbrase (15th c.), e.m.E. imbrace; var. of Embrace. Cf. Inbrace.]

1. tr. To clasp in the arms, put the arms around. Also absol., in reciprocal sense. 1533 Boece ii. xii. 84.
The King … , imbrasing thame aboue the maner of trew affectioun, kissit thame tendirlie 1535 Stewart 42562.
The croce of Christ [he] … in his armes imbraist 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9102.
Sa ather about the nek [he] imbrasit, With greit kindnes, and sine about the waist 15.. Clar. iii. 675.
Scho thankit them on kneis heartfullie, And with hir armis small thair legs imbract Ib. v. 2805.
Thir kingis two imbraicit uther thair 1540 Lynd. Sat. 2716 (Ch.).
Heir sall the temporal staits … imbreasse Johne the Common-weillabsol. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9640.
Than thay imbraist, at vthers tuik gude nicht

2. In various figurative uses. a. To receive (a person) with kindness or welcome; to take (a person) to one's heart. 1567 Acts Jas. VI (1597) 4.
To acknawledge and imbrace him for our onlie mediatour 1571 St. A. Kirk S. 347.
That ane repentand synner sould be resavit and imbreassit, and nocht to be castin of 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xl. 223.
Thay [martyrs] ar imbraist Be the Eternall for thair vprichtnes 1598 Misc. Hist. Soc. I. 53.
As he imbraced them as his faithfull frends, so he restored them to their … liuings

b. To adopt or accept, esp. willingly; also, to hold fast to, keep to. c1568 Lauder Minor P. i. 53; Ib. 103.
The quhilk, … Dois nocht imbrace his wourd most louynglie 1569 St. A. Kirk S. 318.
Being desyrit to imbrace and resave the religioun offerit to us be the grite … mercy of God a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. xxviii. 2.
Wickitnes hait, alway gudnes imbrace 1580 Hay Cath. Tr. 51/23.
The invocation of sainctes … , sen it hes bene ever sen the beginning imbrased be the Kirk 1596 Dalr. I. 2509.
All vnhonestie of a … filthie lyfe had he imbracet c1615 Chron. Kings 33.
[The Picts] war mowit to leaff the herressie of Pelagius and imbreassit the trew catholik religioune c1650 Spalding I. 226.
Thir war tuo lernit divynes, who … wold not imbrace the covenant

c. To accept, esp. gladly or willingly. (With various objects.) c1568 Lauder Minor P. iii. 17.
The godlie will with pacience imbrace Dew admonitioun for thair vice and sin 1618 Conv. Burghs III. 71.
The standert of the said measoure is … ordanit … to be ressauit and imbraicit be the haill borrowis 1645 S. Leith Rec. 59.
Ro't Alexander to be overseer in the Linkes seing Ro't Young will not imbrace it 1654 Fam. Innes 177.
I haue imbresed this opertounatie [etc.]

d. To gain, obtain. e. To receive, get, have. a1500 Henr. Fab. 2938 (B).
Now gowins [= gowns] gay, now brattis to imbras 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 173.
That … all such cutthroittis suld imbrace His seueir censure for thair villanie a1585 Maitl. Q. lxv. 169.
Imbrasing deith, we are the lordis elect c1590 J. Stewart 20/180.
My … brest quhilk may no mirth imbrace

3. To contain, include. a1586 Kamington in Geneal. Setoun 49.
O plesant palice, thou may now imbrace Four earles, by lords, within thy hall at anis

4. To put or fasten on (a helmet). Cf. Embrace v. 1 and Brase v. 2. ?1438 Alex. ii. 5941.
With helme imbraissed, braissand his sheild