BRACE

I. verb (~d; bracing) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~r to em~, from ~ Date: 14th century transitive verb to fasten tightly ; bind , 2. to prepare for use by making taut, prepare , steel , invigorate , freshen , to turn (a sail yard) by means of a ~, 4. to furnish or support with a ~ , to make stronger ; reinforce , to put or plant firmly , to waylay especially with demands or questions, intransitive verb to take heart, to get ready (as for an attack), II. noun (plural ~s) see: brief Date: 14th century something (as a clasp) that connects or fastens, two of a kind ; pair , a crank-shaped instrument for turning a bit, something that transmits, directs, resists, or supports weight or pressure: as, a diagonal piece of structural material that serves to strengthen something (as a framework), a rope rove through a block at the end of a ship's yard to swing it horizontally, suspenders, an appliance for supporting a body part, an orthodontic appliance usually of metallic wire that is used especially to exert pressure to straighten misaligned teeth, 5. one of two marks { } used to connect words or items to be considered together, one of these marks connecting two or more musical staffs carrying parts to be performed simultaneously, bracket 3a, a position of rigid attention, something that arouses energy or strengthens morale