encompass

From Middle English encompassen, equivalent to en- +‎ compass.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/, /ənˈkʌmpəs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈkʌmpəs/, /ɪnˈkɑmpəs/, /ɛnˈkʌmpəs/, /ɛnˈkɑmpəs/

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• Audio (AU)

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• Hyphenation: en‧com‧pass

encompass (third-person singular simple present encompasses, present participle encompassing, simple past and past participle encompassed)

1. (transitive) To form a circle around; to encircle.
2. (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 […], part 1, 2nd edition, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, OCLC 932920499; 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:

3. (transitive) To include completely; to describe fully or comprehensively.

   This book on English grammar encompasses all irregular verbs.

   Synonym: (now rare) comprehend

4. (transitive) To go around, especially, to circumnavigate.

   Drake encompassed the globe.

• encompassment

• encompass in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
• encompass in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913