\Brave\ (br[=a]v), a. [Compar. {Braver}; superl.
{Bravest}.] [F. brave, It. or Sp. bravo, (orig.) fierce,
wild, savage, prob. from. L. barbarus. See {Barbarous}, and
cf. {Bravo}.]
1. Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; -- opposed to
   {cowardly}; as, a brave man; a brave act.
2. Having any sort of superiority or excellence; --
   especially such as in conspicuous. [Obs. or Archaic as
   applied to material things.]
         Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth.
                                               --Bacon.
         It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall.
                                               --Pepys.
3. Making a fine show or display. [Archaic]
         Wear my dagger with the braver grace. --Shak.
         For I have gold, and therefore will be brave. In
         silks I'll rattle it of every color.  --Robert
                                               Greene.
         Frog and lizard in holiday coats And turtle brave in
         his golden spots.                     --Emerson.
Syn: Courageous; gallant; daring; valiant; valorous; bold;
     heroic; intrepid; fearless; dauntless; magnanimous;
     high-spirited; stout-hearted. See {Gallant}.

\Brave\, n.
1. A brave person; one who is daring.
         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.
2. Specifically, an Indian warrior.
3. A man daring beyond discretion; a bully.
         Hot braves like thee may fight.       --Dryden.
4. A challenge; a defiance; bravado. [Obs.]
         Demetrius, thou dost overween in all; And so in
         this, to bear me down with braves.    --Shak.

\Brave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Braved} (br[=a]vd); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Braving}.]
1. To encounter with courage and fortitude; to set at
   defiance; to defy; to dare.
         These I can brave, but those I can not bear.
                                               --Dryden.
2. To adorn; to make fine or showy. [Obs.]
         Thou [a tailor whom Grunio was browbeating] hast
         braved meny men; brave not me; I'll neither be faced
         or braved.                            --Shak.