Embow v.¹

Obs. exc. arch. Also 5 enbow, 6– imbow. [f. EN- + BOW sb.¹]

  1.  trans. To bend or curve into a bow (see BOW sb.¹).

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, VII. 3034. Browes … Bright as the brent gold enbowet þai were.

  2.  Arch. To arch, vault.

1481.  [see EMBOWED ppl. a.].

1555.  Eden, Decades W. Ind. (Arb.), 309. The rouffes … are gylted and embowed.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, viii. (1617), 101. The heauen, being imbowed about these lower parts, like a vaut.

1641.  Heylin, Help to Hist. (1671), 294. The West end … embowed over head seemeth to be very antient.

1838.  Wordsw., Sonn., Cave of Staffa. The pillared vestibule … the roof embowed.

  3.  To enclose as within a sphere; to englobe, encircle.

1605.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. I. 70. Turn’d Vapour, it have round embow’d Heau’ns highest stage.

1649.  G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. V., cxci. His Rayes Embow’d W^thin a vapor here, and there a Cloud.