Also 6–7 im-. [f. EMBRACE v. + -MENT; or a. OF. embracement, F. embrassement: see EMBRACE v.2] The action of embracing.

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  1.  An enfolding in the arms = EMBRACE sb. 1.

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1485.  Caxton, St. Wenefr., 2. I … desyred the to be ioyned to myn enbracementes.

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1591.  Harington, Orl. Fur., XXIII. vii. She … went to him … With words … and with embracements.

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1598.  Yong, Diana, 138. If thou knewest from whom this imbracement came.

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1650.  Howell, Revolutions in Naples, 128. Masaniello prostrating himself at the feet of the Viceroy, he kiss’d his knee, after which embracement, [etc.].

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1670.  Milton, Hist. Eng., I. Wks. (1851), 22. Conuvenna … after imbracements and teares, assails him with … a motherly power.

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1720.  Welton, Suffer. Son of God, I. viii. 176. Since I have shunn’d Thy Dear Embracements: O Thou my Soul’s Bridegroom!

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1829.  J. Wilson, in Blackw. Mag., XXV. 553. Embracements that blended spirit with spirit!

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c. 1850.  Neale, Hymns East. Ch., 52. Embrace me with the last embracement.

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  b.  fig.

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1599.  Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 192. To the end that … they might … cast them selves … into the armes and embracements of Spaine for safeguard.

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1658.  R. Franck, North. Mem. (1821), 21. Him that throws vertue into the embracements of vice.

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1677.  Gilpin, Dæmonol. (1867), 96. They … consider not that they have received into their embracement another [temptation].

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  c.  transf. in certain occasional uses.

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1580.  Sidney, Arcadia, 70. [The bear] being ready to giue me a shrewd embracement.

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1842.  Fraser’s Mag., XXVI. 480. Take a wide embracement of the water towards you, one good armful will bring you round directly.

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  † 2.  What one takes in hand, an undertaking. Cf. EMBRACE v.2 2 h.

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1630.  Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 37. [Sir Francis Walsingham] was one of the great allayes of the Austerian embracements.

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a. 1662.  Heylin, Laud, II. (1671), 506. Some … complained, that his Embracements were too large and general.

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  3.  A clasping, encircling, closely surrounding.

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1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 58. The Parts in Mans body easily reparable, as Spirits, Bloud, and Flesh, die in the Embracement of the Parts hardly reparable, as Bones, Nerues and Membranes.

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1622–62.  Heylin, Cosmogr., I. (1682), 80. Ravenna, situate in the embracement of two Rivers.

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1850.  Blackie, Æschylus, I. 95. Quick, each hand with sure embracement hold the dagger by the hilt!

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  b.  fig. An embracing or taking in with the eye or the mind.

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1599.  Davies, Immort. Soul, 23. Nor can her wide Embracements filled bee.

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1837.  Howitt, Rur. Life, V. iii. (1862), 386. Their intellectual vision widened to the embracement of the universe.

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  4.  fig. An approving acceptance (of a doctrine, religion, etc.); a cheerful acceptance of something offered).

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1535.  in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. lxiii. 157. Affection towards the favorable embrasement of Gods word.

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1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VII. ix. (1632), 242. The Conuersion of the Northumbrians to the imbracement of Christian Religion.

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1666.  G. Alsop, Maryland (1869), 89. What Destiny has ordered I am resolved … to subscribe to, and with a contented imbracement enjoy it.

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1713.  Beveridge, Priv. Th., II. 106. Their Wills in the Embracement of the Chiefest Good.

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