encirclev.
/ɛnˈsəːk(ə)l/ 1. transitive. To enclose in a circle.
a. Of things, bodies of people, etc.: To form a circle round, surround.
b. To surround, gird, encompass with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > surround or lie around [verb (transitive)]
befong971
beclipc1000
begoc1000
belieOE
bestandc1000
to go about ——OE
umbegangc1200
behema1250
befallc1275
berunc1275
girdc1290
bihalvena1300
umlapa1300
umlaya1300
umlouka1300
umbegoc1300
belayc1320
halsea1340
enclose1340
umbelapa1350
embracec1360
betrendc1374
circlec1374
umbecasta1375
to give about1382
environa1393
umbeclipa1395
compassa1400
encircle?a1400
enourle?a1400
umbegivea1400
umbeseta1400
umbeliec1400
umbetighc1400
enroundc1420
measurec1425
umbsteadc1450
adviron?1473
purprise1481
umbeviron1489
belta1500
girtha1500
overgirda1500
engirt15..
envirea1513
round?a1513
brace1513
umbereach1513
becompass1520
circuea1533
girtc1540
umbsetc1540
circule1553
encompass1555
circulate?a1560
ingyre1568
to do about1571
engird1573
circumdate1578
succinge1578
employ1579
circuate1581
girdle1582
wheel1582
circumgyre1583
enring1589
ringa1592
embail1593
enfold1596
invier1596
stem1596
circumcingle1599
ingert1599
engirdle1602
circulize1603
circumscribe1605
begirt1608
to go round1610
enwheela1616
surround1616
shingle1621
encirculize1624
circumviron1632
beround1643
orba1644
circumference1646
becircle1648
incircuitc1650
circumcinge1657
circumtend1684
besiege1686
cincture1789
zone1795
cravat1814
encincture1820
circumvent1824
begirdle1837
perambulate1863
cordon1891
?a1400 Morte Arth. 3943 The..kynge..Ses theme alle in a soppe in sowte by theme one, With þe Sarazenes unsownde enserchede [corrected (? conjecturally) in Gloss. to enserclede] abowte.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. i. 232 Your flocke..Encircled you, to heare with reuerence, Your exposition. View more context for this quotation
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. vi. xxiv. 231/2 Incirculing their heads with this word, æternitas imperi.
1642 J. Howell Instr. Forreine Travell ix. 117 Great Britaine being encircled by the Sea..need not feare any one Earthly power.
1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 106 I found myself incircled in the Arms of my..Father.
1775 R. Chandler Trav. Asia Minor 106 The people..were encircling the trunks with tar.
1775 S. Johnson Taxation no Tyranny 42 Encircle with a diadem the brows of Mr. Cushing.
1844 tr. M. T. Asmar Mem. Babylonian Princess II. 20 Some of the nuns encircle their naked waists with a girdle of thorns.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 295 The close which encircles the venerable cathedral.
c. transferred and figurative.
ΚΠ
1774 O. Goldsmith Retaliation 83 Satire and Censure encircl'd his throne.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. i. 46 God of the silver bow, who with thy power Encirclest Chrysa.
1833 R. Browning Pauline 24 Sense supplies a love Encircling me.
a1876 J. H. Newman Hist. Sketches I. i. iv. 171 The divinity which..encircled the hideous form of Attila.
2. To make a circling movement about (a person or thing).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement in circle or curve > cause to move in circle or curve [verb (transitive)] > move in circle round something
umgoa1300
compassc1384
gyrec1420
environ?a1425
circuitc1550
revolve1559
circle1582
to put (also make, cast) a girdle (round) about1600
encirclea1616
encompass1640
whirla1657
circulate1685
gird1688
circumgyrate1868
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iv. iv. 56 Then let them all encircle him about. View more context for this quotation
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iii. ii. 48 Till they had twice incirculed the fire.
1638 Bp. J. Wilkins Discov. New World (1684) i. 137 Jupiter hath four [Moons] that Incircle him with their Motion.
a1717 T. Parnell Hesiod (R.) Hermes..Her brows encircled with his serpent-rod.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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