unbracev.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈbreɪs/, U.S. /ˌənˈbreɪs/ 1.
a. reflexive or transitive. To free (oneself or another) from bands or braces forming part of clothing or armour. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > of armour: protect [verb (transitive)] > divest of armour > specific part
unbracec1400
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > undressing or removing clothing > undress or remove clothing [verb (transitive)] > strip or undress a person > divest of parts of clothing
unbracec1400
c1400 Laud Troy Bk. 7007 Ector affter euere chases, At eche a lepe his stede vnbrasis.
1420–2 J. Lydgate Story of Thebes 4284 He alighte doun, And brotherly, with a pitous face, To saue his lyf gan hym to vnbrace.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Sbracciarsi, to vnbrace ones selfe.
1633 Match at Mid-night iv Widow. You will not be so uncivil to unbrace you here?.. Alex. I will off with my doublet to my very shirt.
1637 T. Heywood Pleasant Dialogues & Dramma's xviii. 147 Par. Have them all stript naked... Merc. Vnbrace your selues, put off, and nothing hide.
b. figurative. To lay open; to disclose, reveal.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)]
unwryc825
unhelec1000
to draw forthc1175
unhillc1200
to bring forth?c1225
unsteekc1250
let witc1275
uncovera1300
wraya1300
knowc1300
barea1325
shrivec1374
unwrapc1374
again-covera1382
nakena1382
outc1390
tellc1390
disclosea1393
cough1393
unhidea1400
unclosec1400
unhaspc1400
bewrayc1405
reveal1409
accusea1413
reveil1424
unlocka1425
unrekec1425
disclude?1440
uncurec1440
utter1444
detect1447
break1463
expose1483
divinec1500
revelate1514
to bring (also put) to light1526
decipher1529
rake1547
rip1549
unshadow1550
to lay to sight1563
uppen1565
unlace1567
unvisor?1571
resign1572
uncloak1574
disshroud1577
spill1577
reap1578
unrip1579
scour1585
unharboura1586
unmask1586
uncase1587
descrya1591
unclasp?1592
unrive1592
discover1594
unburden1594
untomb1594
unhusk1596
dismask1598
to open upc1600
untruss1600
divulge1602
unshale1606
unbrace1607
unveil1609
rave1610
disveil1611
unface1611
unsecret1612
unvizard1620
to open up1624
uncurtain1628
unscreen1628
unbare1630
disenvelop1632
unclothe1632
to lay forth1633
unshroud1633
unmuffle1637
midwife1638
dissecret1640
unseal1640
unmantle1643
to fetch out1644
undisguise1655
disvelop1658
decorticate1660
clash1667
exert1692
disinter1711
to up with1715
unbundlea1739
develop1741
disembosom1745
to open out1814
to let out1833
unsack1846
uncrown1849
to bring (out) in (also into) the open1861
unfrock1866
disbosom1868
to blow the lid off1928
flush1950
surface1955
to take or pull the wraps off1964
1607 T. Middleton Revengers Trag. iv. sig. G4 Now yare both present I will vnbrace such a closse priuate villayne, Vnto your vengfull swords.
2.
a. transitive. To undo, to loosen or untie, to relax (a band, grasp, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > compose or make calm [verb (transitive)]
softa1225
stilla1325
coolc1330
accoya1375
appeasec1374
attemperc1386
lullc1386
quieta1398
peasea1400
amesec1400
assuagec1400
mesec1400
soberc1430
modify?a1439
establish1477
establish1477
pacify1484
pacify1515
unbrace?1526
settle1530
steady1530
allay1550
calm1559
compromitc1574
restore1582
recollect1587
serenize1598
smooth1604
compose1607
recompose1611
becalm1613
besoothe1614
unprovokea1616
halcyon1616
unstrain1616
leniate1622
tranquillize1623
unperplexa1631
belull1631
sedate1646
unmaze1647
assopiatea1649
serenate1654
serene1654
tranquillify1683
soothe1697
unalarm1722
reserene1755
quietize1791
peacify1845
quieten1853
conjure1856
peace1864
disfever1880
patise1891
de-tension1961
mellow1974
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)]
unbindc950
undoc950
unleeseOE
breaka1225
unfest?c1225
leesea1325
loosena1382
unloosea1382
loose1388
resolvea1398
unlace?c1400
unfastenc1440
unloosen?a1475
to let slip1526
unbrace?1526
diffibulatea1538
unframe1567
unclit1587
undight1590
unclip1598
unclenchc1600
unreeve1600
unlock1609
ungrapple1611
unquilt1611
abstringe1623
renode1623
unspan1648
unfast1684
disengage1780
undub1807
unclap1846
?1526 Complaynt Mary Magdaleyne in Chaucer's Bk. Fame (Pynson) sig. e.vi v/1 Than gan I there myne armes to vnbrace Up lyfting my handes full mourningly.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 631 The ȝaip ȝeman to the ȝet is gane; Enbraissit [read vn-] the bandis beliue.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iv. sig. P6v The knight..Knitt all his forces, and gan soone vnbrace His grasping hold.
1598 B. Yong tr. A. Pérez 2nd Pt. Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 189 A faire and daintie hand he did vnbrace.
1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xiv. 245 The Queen of Love..from her fragrant Breast the Zone unbrac'd.
1769 W. Falconer Shipwreck (ed. 3) ii. 75 Arion..The cordage of the leeward-guns unbrac'd.
b. To loosen, detach, or set free by the undoing or removal of braces or bonds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > loosening or unfastening > loosen, unfasten, or untie [verb (transitive)] > free from a band, bond, etc.
undoc930
unbindc950
untrussc1400
untiec1450
ungird1485
ungirth1580
unchain1582
unbrace1593
ungirt1598
unpinion1660
unlash1699
release1779
disengirdle1871
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares f. 20v The resplendent eye-out-brauing buildings of your Temple, (like a Drum) shal be vngirt & vnbraced.
1627 M. Drayton Battaile Agincourt 43 Now with mayne blowes their Armours are vnbras'd.
1654 B. Whitelocke Jrnl. Swedish Ambassy (1772) II. 365 The gunner was so amazed with the daunger, that he forgott to unbrace the gunnes, and shott away the maine sheate.
1714 ‘N. Ironside’ Orig. Canto Spencer xli So gan they soon her Armoury unbrace.
1813 W. Scott Bridal of Triermain ii. xxiv. 92 Gay shields were cleft, and crests defaced, And steel coats riven, and helms unbraced.
1828 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. III. viii. 133 Unbrace his armour—loose the helmet first.
c. To relax the tension of (a drum).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > making or fitting instruments > accessories [verb (transitive)] > unbrace drum
unbrace1593
1593 [see sense 2b].
a1640 P. Massinger Bashful Lover iv. i. 176 in 3 New Playes (1655) Had you been Imploy'd to mediate your Fathers cause, My drum had been unbrac'd, my trumpet hung up.
1691 J. Dryden King Arthur iii. i. 21 Furle up our Colours, and Unbrace our Drums.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > preparation of fowls > prepare fowls [verb (transitive)] > carve > duck
unbracec1470
c1470 Hors, Shepe, & G. (1822) (Roxb.) 33 A malard unbrased; a cony unlaced.
1508 Bk. Keruynge (de Worde) sig. Av Vnbrace that malarde.
1687 J. Shirley Accomplished Ladies Rich Closet of Rarities vii. 52 In unbracing a Mallard, Observe that you raise up the pinion and leg, not taking them off.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 78 Unbrace that Duck or Mallard.
a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 269 To unbrace a Duck.
a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 270 To unbrace a Mallard.
1804 J. Farley London Art Cookery (ed. 10) 293 To unbrace a mallard or duck, first raise the pinions and legs.
4. figurative.† a. To allow or make (the heart) to relax in feeling; to free (oneself) from restraint.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > [verb (reflexive)] > relax in emotion
unbrace?a1500
?a1500 Chester Pl., Ador. Sheph. 448 Nowe pray we to hym with good intent, And sing I will, and me unbrace.
?1511 Sir T. Phelyppis in Early XVI Cent. Lyrics lxvii. 24 The rose I suppose thyn hart vnbrace.
a1545 Deth Edwarde IV in J. Skelton Certayne Bks. (c1563) 93 O ye curtes commyns, your hertys vnbrace Benyngly now to pray for me also.
b. To render lax or slack; esp. to deprive of firmness or strength in this way; to enfeeble, weaken.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > weakness of intellect > make weak [verb (transitive)]
faintc1386
mollify1490
weaken1536
pamper1576
touch1607
unspirit1607
disnervea1618
petrifya1631
dissinew1640
unbrace1711
atrophy1865
unstring1897
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > weakening > weaken [verb (transitive)]
unstrengea1225
unstrength?c1225
feeblea1340
affeeblea1400
weakc1400
affeeblishc1450
enfeeblisha1492
pallc1500
weaken1569
effeeblish?1572
unstrengthen1598
labefy1620
unnerve1621
unmasculate1639
unbrace1711
sinka1715
infirmize1751
slacken1778
exhaust1860
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 249. ¶5 Laughter, while it lasts, slackens and unbraces the Mind, weakens the Faculties.
1715 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad I. iv. 365 But wasting Years that wither human Race, Exhaust thy Spirits, and thy Arms unbrace.
1758 Idler 10 June 73 What rules has he proposed totally to unbrace the slackened nerve?
1799 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 90 2 The muscles of the malleus having been deemed sufficient for bracing and unbracing it.
1865 J. R. Lowell Wks. (1890) V. 293 The war..which invigorated bolder men, unbraced him.
1884 Fortn. Rev. Jan. 37 Everything has been done that could be done..to unbrace the sinew of national resistance.
c. absol. To become lax; to lose firmness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [verb (intransitive)] > lose firmness
unbrace1693
1693 J. Dryden tr. Juvenal in J. Dryden et al. tr. Juvenal Satires vi. 97 Let her Eyes Lessen, and her Skin unbrace.
1699 S. Garth Dispensary iii. 34 At thy approach, the Springs of Nature start, The Nerves unbrace.
a1718 T. Parnell Posthumous Wks. (1758) 24 When spirits stop their course, when nerves unbrace, And outward action and perception cease.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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