a. [ Compar. Braver; superl. Bravest. ] [ F. brave, It. or Sp. bravo, (orig.) fierce, wild, savage, prob. from. L. barbarus. See Barbarous, and cf. Bravo. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; -- opposed to cowardly; as, a brave man; a brave act. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having any sort of superiority or excellence; -- especially such as in conspicuous. [ Obs. or Archaic as applied to material things. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall. Pepys. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Making a fine show or display. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Wear my dagger with the braver grace. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

For I have gold, and therefore will be brave.
In silks I'll rattle it of every color. Robert Greene. [ 1913 Webster ]

Frog and lizard in holiday coats
And turtle brave in his golden spots. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Courageous; gallant; daring; valiant; valorous; bold; heroic; intrepid; fearless; dauntless; magnanimous; high-spirited; stout-hearted. See Gallant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A brave person; one who is daring. [ 1913 Webster ]

The star-spangled banner, O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. F. S. Key. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically, an Indian warrior. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A man daring beyond discretion; a bully. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hot braves like thee may fight. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A challenge; a defiance; bravado. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Demetrius, thou dost overween in all;
And so in this, to bear me down with braves. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Braved p. pr. & vb. n. Braving. ] 1. To encounter with courage and fortitude; to set at defiance; to defy; to dare. [ 1913 Webster ]

These I can brave, but those I can not bear. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To adorn; to make fine or showy. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou [ a tailor whom Grunio was browbeating ] hast braved meny men; brave not me; I'll neither be faced or braved. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly; nobly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Finely; gaudily; gayly; showily. [ 1913 Webster ]

And [ she ] decked herself bravely to allure the eyes of all men that should see her. Judith. x. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Well; thrivingly; prosperously. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of state or being brave. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. braverie. ] 1. The quality of being brave; fearless; intrepidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Remember, sir, my liege, . . .
The natural bravery of your isle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of braving; defiance; bravado. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Reform, then, without bravery or scandal of former times and persons. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Splendor; magnificence; showy appearance; ostentation; fine dress. [ 1913 Webster ]

With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like a stately ship . . .
With all her bravery on, and tackle trim. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A showy person; a fine gentleman; a beau. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A man that is the bravery of his age. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Courage; heroism; interpidity; gallantry; valor; fearlessness; dauntlessness; hardihood; manfulness. See Courage, and Heroism. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To inspire with bravery. [ Obs. ] Beaumont. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To decorate; to make showy and fine. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And with sad cypress seemly it embraves. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To excel in bravery or in insolence; to defy with superior courage or audacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To excel in magnificence or comeliness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The basest weed outbraves his dignity. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]