Webster's English Dictionary

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brace

1. brace \'bra-s\ n or brac.es;  or brace [ME, pair, clasp, fr. MF, two 
   arms, fr. L bracchia, pl. of bracchium pl X arm, fr. Gk brachio-n, fr. 
   compar. of brachys short - more at BRIEF pl  1: two of a kind {several ~ of 
   quail}  2: something (as a clasp) that connects or fastens  3: a 
   crank-shaped instrument for turning a bit  4: something that transmits, 
   directs, resists, or supports weight or pressu re : as 4a: a piece of 
   structural material that serves as a tie or strut to bear tr ansverse 
   strains and prevent distortion 4b: a rope rove through a block at the end 
   of a ship's yard to swing it hor izontally pl  4c: SUSPENDERS  4d: an 
   appliance for supporting a body part  pl  4e: wire fastened to teeth to 
   correct irregularities in their position  5a: a mark <brace> or <brace> or 
   <brace> used to connect words  or items to be considered together 5b: this 
   mark connecting two or more musical staffs the parts on which are  to be 
   performed simultaneously; also : the group of staffs so connected 5c: 
   BRACKET  6: an exaggerated position of rigidly erect bearing  7: something 
   that arouses energy or strengthens morale 
2. brace vt archaic  1: to fasten tightly : BIND  2a: to prepare for use by 
   making taut  2b: PREPARE, STEEL  2c: INVIGORATE, FRESHEN  3: to turn (a 
   sail yard) by means of a brace  4a: to furnish or support with a brace  4b: 
   STRENGTHEN, REINFORCE  5: to put or plant firmly  1: to take heart - used 
   with up  2: to get ready