What does embraced mean?

directed
protected
hugger
pushed

Santiago said, “a man can be destroyed but not defeated.” in essence he says that a. defeat is likely when you sail alone. b. man can face defeat so it is important to learn from your mistakes and be prepared. c. sharks can always defeat man unless man is well prepared. d. man can be hurt and even destroyed but still have the ability to control how it is viewed.

Identify the participle or infinitive phrase in the sentence below

Which word best describes the meaning of the word putrescent? a. earthy b. floral c. rotten d. strong