Etymology Map
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Embrace

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to hold closely in one's arms; to accept willingly

Where does the word "embrace" come from? It comes from Latin bracchia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
bracchia
Latin · ancient
"arms"
plural of 'bracchium', arm, from Greek 'brakhion'
2
Stage 2 of 3
embracer
Old French · medieval
"to clasp in the arms"
'en-', in, plus 'brace', the two arms
3
Stage 3 of 3
embrace
English · 1300s
"to hug"
'embrace an idea' dates from the 1500s
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Read the full story

Embrace’s story begins in Latin: bracchia meant “arms.” Plural of 'bracchium', arm, from Greek 'brakhion'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as embracer. 'en-', in, plus 'brace', the two arms. It reached English by 1300s as embrace. 'embrace an idea' dates from the 1500s. Today, embrace means to hold closely in one's arms; to accept willingly.