Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BRAVE, a. [Fr. brave; Arm. brao; Sp. Port. It. bravo; D. braaf; Sw. braf; Dan. brav; Ger. brav, whence braviren, to look big, to bully or hector. In Sp. and Port. bravo signifies brave, valiant, strenuous, bullying, fierce, wild, savage, rude, unpolished, excellent, fine; bravear, to bully, to menace in an arrogant manner; brava is a swell of the sea; braveza, valor, and fury of the elements. The word brave expresses also a showy dress; Arm. bragal, to be well dressed, fine, spruce, of which brao seems to be a contraction. The word bears the sense of open, bold, expanding, and rushing, vaunting. It is doubtless contracted, and probably from the root of brag.]

1. Courageous; bold; daring; intrepid; fearless of danger; as, a brave warrior. It usually unites the sense of courage with generosity and dignity of mind, qualities often united. – Bacon. The brave man will not deliberately do an injury to his fellow man. – Anon.
2. Gallant; lofty; graceful; having a noble mien. – Shak.
3. Magnificent; grand; as, a brave place. – Denham.
4. Excellent; noble; dignified. But in modern usage, it has nearly lost its application to things.
5. Gaudy; showy in dress. [Ar. بَرَقَ baraka, to adorn.] [Obs.] – Spenser.