brave

adjective

1. 1

   Strong in the face of fear; courageous.

   For miſerie doth braueſt mindes abate, / And make them ſeeke for that they wont to ſcorne, / Of fortune and of hope at once forlorne.

   Do not fret, dear. You must be brave and strong, and help me through the horrible task. If you only knew what an effort it is to me to tell of this fearful thing at all, you would understand how much I need your help.

   […]he has been so brave, giving it all a dignity.

   Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others.

2. 2

   obsoleteHaving any sort of superiority or excellence.

   Is it not paſſing braue to be a King, And ride in triumph through Perſepolis?

   Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth.

   It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall.

3. 3

   Making a fine show or display.

   Their plumed helmes are wrought with beaten golde, Their ſwords enameld, and about their neckes Hangs maſſie chaines of golde downe to the waſte, In euery part exceding braue and rich.

   Wear my dagger with the braver grace.

   For I have gold, and therefore will be brave. / In silks I'll rattle it of every color.

   Frog and lizard in holiday coats / And turtle brave in his golden spots.

4. 4

   Foolish or unwise.

noun

1. 1

   datedA Native American warrior.

2. 2

   obsoleteA man daring beyond discretion; a bully.

   Hot Braves, like thee, may fight; but know not well / To manage this, the laſt great Stake of Hell.

3. 3

   obsoleteA challenge; a defiance; bravado.

   Demetrius, thou dost overween in all; / And so in this, to bear me down with braves.

verb

1. 1

   To encounter or withstand with courage and fortitude, to defy, to provoke.

   For Cassius is aweary of the world; Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother; Checked like a bondman; all his faults observed, Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote, To cast into my teeth.

   The ills of Love, not those of Fate, I fear, These I can brave, but those I cannot bear […]

   […] but they [Parliament] never will be braved into it.

   After braving tricks on the high-dive, he braved a jump off the first diving platform.

2. 2

   obsoleteTo adorn; to make fine or showy.

   Face not me. Thou hast braved many men; brave not me. I will neither be faced nor braved.

Forms

plural

braves

comparative

braver, more brave

superlative

bravest, most brave

past tense

braved

past participle

braved

present participle

braving

third person singular

braves