Embracen

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To clasp another person closely in the arms as a sign of affection ; to take up or accept an idea, belief or course of action with enthusiasm
2. To hold a person tightly in one's arms out of warmth or love ; to welcome and adopt a belief, opportunity or way of life willingly
3. An archaic term meaning to enfold someone in one's arms affectionately ; to receive and take on a cause, doctrine or change with open acceptance

Etymology: Its ancestor describes a plain physical act. Old French "embracier" combined "em-" ("in") with "bras," meaning "arm," which descends from Latin "brachium." To embrace someone was originally to take them into your arms, and the verb kept that bodily sense for a long time before it stretched to cover accepting an idea or opinion. "Embracen" is the Middle English form, with the infinitive ending "-en" that many English verbs of that period carried. The same Latin root also gave English "brace," which shares the sense of holding or bracing with the arms.