encompass
English
editAlternative forms
edit- incompass (archaic)
Etymology
editFrom Middle English encompassen, equivalent to en- + compass.
Pronunciation
edit- (UK) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/, /ən-/
- (US) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/, /-ˈkɑmpəs/, /ɛn-/
- (General Australian) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkampəs/
Audio (General Australian): (file)
- Hyphenation: en‧com‧pass
Verb
editencompass (third-person singular simple present encompasses, present participle encompassing, simple past and past participle encompassed)
- (transitive) To form a circle around; to encircle.
- (transitive) To include within its scope; to circumscribe or go round so as to surround; to enclose; to contain.
- Synonym: embrace
- c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene i:
- his piercing inſtruments of ſight:
Whose fiery circles beare encompaſſed
A heauen of heauenly bodies in their Spheares:
- (transitive) To include completely; to describe fully or comprehensively.
- Synonym: (now rare) comprehend
- This book on English grammar encompasses all irregular verbs.
- (transitive) To go around, especially, to circumnavigate.
- Drake encompassed the globe.
Related terms
editTranslations
editencircle
|
surround
|
include
|
References
edit- “encompass”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “encompass”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms prefixed with en-
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English verbs
- English transitive verbs
- English terms with quotations
- English terms with usage examples