Embrace

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /ɛmˈbɹes/

Definitions

1. To hold someone closely in one's arms as a way of expressing affection or greeting
2. To hold closely in one's arms, or to accept willingly and adopt enthusiastically as one's own
3. To clasp someone in one's arms in affection or to readily adopt and support a belief, cause, or practice

Etymology: The sense of holding someone closely in one's arms, often as a sign of affection, dates back to the Middle English period with this word. It comes from Old French "embracer," which itself derives from the Vulgar Latin "*bracchiare," meaning "to clasp in the arms." This Latin root is linked to "bracchium," the classical Latin term for "arm." So, at its core, the word literally signifies the act of putting your arms around someone. The prefix "em-" in the original Old French form is a variant of "in-" meaning "in" or "into," which adds a sense of surrounding or enveloping. This combination conveys the physical action of enclosing someone within the arms. Over time, this physical gesture took on a broader figurative meaning, extending from the literal to the abstract. By the 14th and 15th centuries, it was applied metaphorically to ideas such as accepting or adopting beliefs, causes, or proposals. Interestingly, the word’s evolution reflects a shift from a purely physical act to a more symbolic one. To "embrace" something can mean to fully accept or welcome it, suggesting a mental or emotional inclusion akin to the physical act of holding someone close. This figurative sense gained prominence in English during the early modern period. The noun form emerged around the same time as the verb, denoting not just the act of physically embracing, but also the broader notion of acceptance or inclusion. Both forms have remained closely tied to the idea of enclosing or surrounding, whether literally with arms or metaphorically with approval or affection.

Synonyms: hug, hold, enfold, welcome, accept

Antonyms: reject, shun, repel, avoid, disdain