Nowadays chose to be embraced (7)
I believe the answer is:
adopted
'be embraced' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'nowadays chose' is the wordplay.
'nowadays' becomes 'AD' (AD, Anno Domini, as opposed to BC, Before Christ).
'chose' becomes 'opted' (to opt for something is to choose it).
'ad'+'opted'='ADOPTED'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for adopted that I've seen before include "Borrowed" , "raised issue on behalf of others" , "Espoused" , "Taken as one's own" , "Took into one's family" .)