What does embrave mean?
"Embrave" is a rare and largely archaic English verb meaning to make brave — to fill someone with courage or boldness. Formed from the adjective "brave" with the intensifying prefix em- (from Latin/French in-, meaning "to put into"), it belongs to the same family of formations as "enrich" or "embolden." The word appears in older English writing, where it was used of leaders, stories, or circumstances that stirred timorous hearts into action: a speech might embrave wavering troops, or a tale might embrave fearful listeners. Though it has all but vanished from everyday speech, surviving only in historical dictionaries and literary usage, it remains a compact and evocative alternative to "embolden" or "hearten." A writer reaching for a deliberately antique or poetic tone may revive it, but should do so knowingly — most modern readers will encounter it as unfamiliar, and its meaning must be carried by context.
verbA now-rare, chiefly archaic English verb meaning to make brave; to embolden or inspire with courage.
- To make brave; to embolden or inspire with courage (archaic/rare).
"The captain's calm voice embraced the frightened crew — it embraved them for the storm ahead."
"Her unwavering resolve embraved the soldiers before the final assault."
"The old tales were told to embrave the children against the dangers of the long winter."
Long before "man up," English had "embrave" — a forgotten little verb that meant to breathe courage into someone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of embrave
"Embrave" derives from the adjective "brave," which entered English in the late 15th century from French brave, itself likely of Italian origin (bravo). The verb was formed by adding the prefix em- (from French en-/Latin in-) to "brave," following the productive pattern seen in words like "enlarge" and "embolden." It was in use in earlier modern English but has since become obsolete or nearly so. Its cognates include the wider "brave" word family: bravery, bravado, bravo, and bravura.
Related word forms
How embrave is actually used
"Embrace" is obsolete or nearly so in modern English; it appears mainly in historical and literary texts. Any contemporary use is deliberately archaic or poetic in register and should be used sparingly, since most readers will not recognize it.
Easily confused with embrave
"Engrave" means to carve or cut designs into a hard surface, whereas "embrave" is an archaic verb meaning to make brave or embolden.