Definition of "environ"
environ1
adverb
not comparable
Quotations
Thaboũdant grace of the power deuyne / whiche doth illumyne yͤ world inuyron / Preſerue this audyẽce and cauſe them to inclyne / To charyte this is my petycyonThe abundant grace of the power divine / which doth illumine the world environ / Preserve this audience and cause them to incline / To charity; this is my petition
c. 1519 (date written), [John Rastell], A New Iuterlude [sic] and a Mery of the Nature of the .IIII. Element[s...]; reprinted as John S. Farmer, editor, The Nature of the Four Elements (The Tudor Facsimile Texts), London, Edinburgh: […] T. C. & E. C. Jack, […], 1908, signature Aij
Lord Godfreyes eie three times enuiron goes, / To vievv vvhat count'nance euerie vvarriour beares, […]
1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Second Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, stanza 80, page 35
environ2
verb
third-person singular simple present environs, present participle environing, simple past and past participle environed
To encircle or surround (someone or something).
Quotations
For novv I ſtand as one vpon a rocke, / Inuirond vvith a vvildernes of ſea, / VVho markes the vvaxing tide, grovv vvaue by vvaue, / Expecting euer when ſome enuious ſurge, / VVill in his briniſh bovvels ſvvallovv him.
c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, [Act III, scene i]
Into that foreſt farre they thence him led, / VVhere vvas their dvvelling, in a pleaſant glade, / VVith mountaines rovvnd about enuironed, / And mightie vvoodes, vvhich did the valley ſhade, […]
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto V”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, stanza 39, page 473
There is another village called Finland, Fingland and Fennland, which is almost environned with a moss and fenny ground.
c. 1610 (date written), John Denton, “Burgh Barony”, in R[ichard] S[aul] Ferguson, editor, An Accompt of the Most Considerable Estates and Families in the County of Cumberland, from the Conquest unto the Beginning of the Reign of K. James [the First], Kendal, Cumbria: T. Wilson, published 1887, page 76
I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs / By the knovvn rules of antient libertie, / When ſtrait a barbarous noiſe environs me / Of Ovvles and Cuckoes, Aſſes, Apes and Doggs.
1673, John Milton, “[Sonnet] XII. On the Same [Tetrachordon].”, in Poems, &c. upon Several Occasions, London: […] Tho[mas] Dring […], page 56
[W]ent I forth, and found, till then unknovvn, / A cottage, vvhither oft vve ſince repair: / 'Tis perch'd upon the green-hill top, but cloſe / Inviron'd vvith a ring of branching elms / That overhang the thatch, itſelf unſeen, / Peeps at the vale belovv; […]
1785, William Cowper, “Book I. The Sofa.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], page 12
Under none of the accredited ghostly circumstances, and environed by none of the conventional ghostly surroundings, did I first make acquaintance with the house which is the subject of this Christmas piece.
1859 December 13, Charles Dickens, “The Mortals in the House”, in Charles Dickens, editor, The Haunted House. The Extra Christmas Number of All the Year Round […], volume II, London: […] C. Whiting, […], page 1, column 1
(often military) To encircle or surround (someone or something) so as to attack from all sides; to beset.
Quotations
The Erle in good haste departed thence to Penbroke, whome incontinent Morgan Thomas, by king Edwards commaundement so strongly besieged, and so enuironed his Castell with a ditche and a trench, that he could not lightly flie or escape thence, […]
1569, Richard Grafton, “Edwarde the Fourth”, in A Chronicle at Large, and Meere History of the Affayres of Englande, […], London: […] Henry Denham, […], for Richarde Tottle and Humffrey Toye; republished in Grafton’s Chronicle; or, History of England. […], volume II, London: […] [George Woodfall] for J[oseph] Johnson; […], 1809, page 44
Philopœmen fearinge to be enuironned, and being deſirous to bring his men ſafe home againe, vvho moſt of loue had follovved him: beganne to marche avvay through narrovv buſhy places, him ſelfe being in the rerevvard, and turned oftentimes vpon his enemies, […]
1579, Plutarke of Chæronea [i.e., Plutarch], “The Life of Philopœmen”, in Thomas North, transl., The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romaines, […], London: […] Richard Field, page 406
Enuironed he vvas vvith many foes, / And ſtood againſt them, as the hope of Troy / Againſt the Greekes, that vvould haue entred Troy.
c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i], page 152, column 2
The King [Cynewulf of Wessex] had an intrigue vvith a young vvoman, vvho lived at Merton in Surrey; vvhither having ſecretly retired, he vvas on a ſudden environed, in the night-time, by Kynehard and his follovvers, and after making a vigorous reſiſtance, vvas murdered, vvith all his attendants.
1762, David Hume, “Chapter I.”, in The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Cæsar to the Accession of Henry VII, volume I, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], page 39
(heraldry, chiefly passive voice, obsolete) To encircle or surround (a heraldic element such as a charge or escutcheon (shield)).
Quotations
Az[ure], an annulet environing a barrulet, betw[een] two bars and in chief a cross patty fitchy or.
1874, John W[oody] Papworth, “1 ANNULET betw. or within … and in chief …”, in Alfred W. Morant, editor, An Alphabetical Dictionary of Coats of Arms Belonging to Families in Great Britain and Ireland; […], London: T. Richards, […], page 4, column 2
To cover, enclose, or envelop (someone or something).
Quotations
Farre off a hill and mountaine high they ſpide, / VVhoſe top the cloudes enuiron, cloath and hide; […]
1600, [Torquato Tasso], “The Fifteenth Booke of Godfrey of Bulloigne”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, stanza 33, page 273
Thus like a Nun, not like a Princeſſe borne, / Deſcended from the Royall Henries loynes: / Liue I inuironed in a houſe of ſtone, […]
1602 (first performance), Thomas Dickers [i.e., Thomas Dekker], Iohn Webster [i.e., John Webster], The Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyat. […], London: […] E[dward] A[llde] for Thomas Archer, […], published 1607; reprinted as John S. Farmer, editor, The Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyat (The Tudor Facsimile Texts; 22), [Amersham, Buckinghamshire: s.n.], 1914, signature [A4], recto
Since ſhe muſt goe, and I muſt mourne, come night / Environ me vvith darkneſſe, vvhilſt I vvrite: / Shadovv that hell unto me, vvhich alone / I am to ſuffer vvhen my ſoule is gone.
a. 1631 (date written; published 1635), J[ohn] Donne, “Eleg[y] XIIII. His Parting from Her.”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for John Marriot, […], published 1639, page 95
In vain I ſtretch theſe eyes, environed vvith darkneſs undiſtinguiſhing and void: no object meets my view; no ſound ſalutes mine ear, except the noiſy vvind that vvhiſtles through theſe vaulted caves of death.
1753, [Tobias Smollett], “His Return to England, and Midnight Pilgrimage to Monimia’s Tomb”, in The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom. […], volume II, London: […] W. Johnston, […], page 239
Even so much life endures unknown, even where, / 'Mid change the changeless night environeth, / Lies all that golden hair undimmed in death.
1870, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, “[Sonnets and Songs, towards a Work to be Called ‘The House of Life.’ Sonnets.] Sonnet XVI. Life-in-Love.”, in Poems, London: F[rederick] S[tartridge] Ellis, […], stanza 2, page 204
(chiefly passive voice) Of a person: to be positioned or stationed around (someone or something) to attend to or protect them.
Quotations
[A]ll of them, upon an aſſociation made in the night, agreed to ſide vvith him, vvith aſſurance of ſafe conduct being gladly admitted unto them, environed he vvas vvith a multitude thronged together of vendible or ſale ſouldiors, […]
1609, Ammianus Marcellinus, “[The XXVI. Booke.] Chapter VIII. Whiles Valens is Farre Removed by Occasion of Warre against the Gothes, Procopius Putting Forward His Intended Businesse, is by Tumultuarie Acclamations Saluted Emperour.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Roman Historie, […], London: […] Adam Jslip, page 293
O moſt high God, who keepeſt all things whether high or low, and environeſt every creature; ſancti†fie and bleſs† theſe Creatures of lime and ſand; Through Chriſt our Lord, Amen.The † symbol indicates the point at which the bishop makes the sign of the cross.
1675, Joshua Stopford, “Altars”, in Pagano-papismus: Or, An Exact Parallel Between Rome-pagan, and Rome-Christian, in Their Doctrines and Ceremonies, London: […] A. Maxwell, for R. Clavel, […], page 75
[T]he admiral in particular, being dangerouſly vvounded, and environed by the guards of the King, on vvhose protection he ſeemed entirely to rely, had no means of eſcape, and might ſurely, before his death, have been convicted of the crimes imputed to him: […]
1759, David Hume, “[Elizabeth I.] Chapter III.”, in The History of England, under the House of Tudor. […], volume II, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], page 543
(figuratively) Of a situation or state of affairs, especially danger or trouble: to happen to and affect (someone or something).
Quotations
Ay me! what perils do environ / The Man that meddles with cold Iron!
1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge: University Press, 1905, canto III, page 59
[S]he knew not one person to whose protection she could have recourse, from the inexpressible woes that environed her: […]
1753, [Tobias Smollett], “Monimia’s Honour is Protected by the Interposition of Heaven”, in The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom. […], volume II, London: […] W. Johnston, […], page 100
Thus the party continued to converſe, and, as far as civility vvould permit, to torture each other by mutual boaſts, vvhile they reclined on ſofas in the portico, and vvere environed vvith delights both from nature and art, by vvhich any honeſt minds vvould have been tempered to benevolence, and happy imaginations vvould have been ſoothed into enchantment.
1794 May 8, Ann Radcliffe, chapter III, in The Mysteries of Udolpho, a Romance; […], volume II, London: […] G. G. and J. Robinson, […], page 130
[H]e never ceaſed to experience the fondeſt intereſt in her happineſs, nor the moſt tender compaſſion for the dangers vvith vvhich he ſavv her environed.
1796, [Frances Burney], “Traits of Eccentricity”, in Camilla: Or, A Picture of Youth. […], volume III, London: […] T[homas] Payne, […]; and T[homas] Cadell Jun. and W[illiam] Davies (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell) […], book VI, page 384
(obsolete)
To amount to or encompass (a space).
Quotations
Tendaia (vvhich firſt obtained the Philippine title) enuironeth a hundred and ſixtie leagues, from tvvelue to fifteene degrees of latitude: the people Idolatrous, abounding vvith Pepper, Ginger, Gold, and Mynes.
1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Asia.] Of the Philippina’s.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], 2nd edition, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], published 1614, book V (Of the East-Indies, and of the Seas and Ilands about Asia, with Their Religions), page 535
environ3
noun
plural environs
(archaic except in the plural, formal, also figuratively) A surrounding area or place (especially of an urban settlement); an environment.
Quotations
I got up to ye Towre, whence we had a prospect towards Duresme, and could see Rippon, part of Lancashire, the famous and fatal Marston Moore, ye Spaws of Knaresborough, and all the environs of that admirable country.
1654 August 27 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, page 286
[N]ovv, if a hamlet containing thirty houſes, vvith perhaps an environ of an equal number, vvhere labour and the fruits of the earth are the only ſources of vvealth, can ſupport one attorney in this rural magnificence; vvhat an infinite number of lavvyers can a commercial capital ſuſtain?
1762, [Samuel] Foote, The Orators. […], Dublin: […] Thomas Richey, […], Act I, pages 20–21
His spirits, during the last two or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved—he grew more and more partial to the house and environs—never spoke of going away without a sigh— […]
1811, [Jane Austen], chapter XIX, in Sense and Sensibility […], volume I, London: […] C[harles] Roworth, […], and published by T[homas] Egerton, […], page 235
I am truly sorry that I cannot accompany you in your ride this morning, owing to a violent pain in my face, arising from a wart to which I by medical advice applied a caustic. Whether I put too much, I do not know, but the consequence is, that not only I have been put to some pain, but the peccant part and its immediate environ are as black as if the printer's devil had marked me for an author.
1823 April 14, Lord Byron, “Letter DXIV. To the Earl of B**.”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Letters and Journals of Lord Byron: With Notices of His Life, […], volume II, London: John Murray, […], published 1830, page 640