Brace Meaning
/bɹeɪs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounArmor for the arm; vambrace.
nounA measurement of length, originally representing a person's outstretched arms.
Sentence Examples
Tom is wearing a neck brace.
Brace yourselves for impact.
Tom has a brace on his right leg.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor advised him to ____ his ankle with a supportive wrap before running.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ yourself for the cold weather that is coming tonight.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English brace, from Old French brace (“arm”), from Latin bracchia, the nominative and accusative plural of bracchium (“arm”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as the braces of the war drum do in that."
— 1713, W[illiam] Derham, Physico-Theology: Or, A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of God, from His Works of Creation. […], London: […] W[illiam] Innys, […], →OCLC:
"And I am of opinion, that the moſt frequent cauſe of Deafneſs is to be attributed to the Laxneſs of the Tympanum, vvhen it has loſt its Brace or Tenſion by ſome irregularity in the Figure of thoſe Bones, or defect in that Muſcle: […]"
— 1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech: An Essay of Inquiry into the Natural Production of Letters: […], London: […] T. N[ewcomb] for J[ohn] Martyn printer to the R[oyal] Society, […], →OCLC, page 113:
"’Tis a Pageant / To keepe vs in falſe gaze, when we conſider / Th’importancie of Cyprus to the Turke; / And let our ſelues againe but vnderſtand, / That as it more concerne the Turke then Rhodes, / So may he with more facile queſtion beare it, / For that it ſtands not in ſuch Warrelike brace, / But altogether lackes th’abilities / That Rhodes is dreſs’d in."
— c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 313, column 1:
"But you, my brace of Lords, were I ſo minded / I heere could plucke his Highneſſe frowne vpon you / And iuſtifie you Traitors: […]"
— 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 17, column 1:
"A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and religion, now appeared in the church; […]"
— 1655, Thomas Fuller, “Section II. The Seventh Century.”, in The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI), subsection 84 (St. Cedde and St. Chad), page 127:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor advised him to ____ his ankle with a supportive wrap before running.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
You should ____ yourself for the cold weather that is coming tonight.