Forms: α. (? 4 encless), 6 encloyse, 4– enclose. β. 5– inclose. [f. EN-1 + CLOSE v., after OF. enclore (pa. pple. enclos) of same meaning. (Cf. INCLUSE.) The majority of recent Dicts. give inclose as the typical form; but the preponderance of usage (in England at least), as well as etymological propriety, is in favor of enclose.]
1. trans. To surround (with walls, fences, or other barriers) so as to prevent free ingress or egress.
α. a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2396. Here es a knyghte in theis klevys, enclesside [? read enclosside] with hilles.
c. 1430. Lydg., Compl. Bl. Knt., vi. A parke, enclosed with a wal.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., II. iii. 67. The paradies terrestre … is enclosed with fyre brennyng.
β. c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 848. In an yle … This clene flese was inclosede all with clere water.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 2. And the felde be inclosed about.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 91. There is a gulfe of 516 miles, inclosed within the promontory or cape of the mountain Barce.
1611. Bible, 2 Macc. i. 34. Then the king inclosing the place, made it holy.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. xxxvi. 137. The gardens … are inclosed with very high walls.
1743. J. Davidson, Æneid, VII. 185. And incloses it with a Parapet.
b. To fence in (waste or common land) with the intention of taking it into cultivation, or of appropriating it to individual owners. Also fig.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 29 § 2. Landes … whiche … be encloysed of newe with a Pale.
1523. Fitzherb., Surv., 2. It is at the lordes pleasure to enclose them and kepe them in tyllage or pasture.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. iii. 24. Against the Duke of Suffolke, for enclosing the Commons of Melforde.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 305. It was not … enclosed after the English manner.
1777. W. Dalrymple, Trav. Sp. & Port., xvi. The late bishop improved this spot of ground … by planting and inclosing it.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, i. 12. An Act of Parliament is to be obtained for enclosing Brook common.
fig. 1562. Apol. Private Masse (1850), 8. To enclose that to some one sort of private profit, that ought to remain in common.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Maxims St. (1651), 43. Charles the fifth … purposed to enclose their [the Netherlanders’] Priviledges.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 420. This round World, whose first convex divides The luminous inferior Orbs, enclos’d From Chaos.
1668. Howe, in H. Rogers, Life, iv. (1863), 126. It is an enclosed pleasure; a joy which the stranger cannot intermeddle with.
2. To shut up in a room or building; to seclude, imprison. Obs. exc. with reference to monastic seclusion.
α. c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 334. Of vche clene comly kynde enclose seuen makez.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 219. The quhethir, men said, enclosit he had Ane spirit.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 200. Many a day … he lay … Withinne walles fast enclosed.
1577. Hanmer, Anc. Eccl. Hist. (1619), 147. Infinite multitudes were everywhere enclosed.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust (2nd version), 120. In the strongest tower Enclose him fast.
1872. O. Shipley, Gloss. Eccl. Terms, 169. The nuns live in community, but are not enclosed.
β. 1585. Abp. Sandys, Serm. (1841), 74. Manasses was never reclaimed until he was inclosed in prison.
1632. Lithgow, Totall Disc., 451. He caused inclose mee in a little Cabinet within the Parlour.
† b. To put (a jury) in the ‘box.’ Sc. Obs.
1759. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), III. xxxix. 271. The jury was enclosed, of which the earl of Caithness was chancellor.
1795. Scots Mag., LVII. 610/2. Eleven o’clock … at which time the jury was inclosed.
3. To insert in a frame or setting, or in a surrounding mass of material; to shut up in a case, envelope or receptacle. Also fig.
α. c. 1386. Chaucer, Pers. T., ¶ 965. In the orisoun of the Paternoster hath oure Lord Jhesu Crist enclosed most thinges.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 506. And lettres hym bedes Of credence enclosyde.
1611. Bible, Ex. xxxix. 6. They wrought Onix stones enclosed in ouches of gold.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 435. That lyes enclosed in this Trunke, which you Shall beare along impawnd.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 318. The Apple, Enclosed in Wax was … Green and Fresh.
1664. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (1729), 218. About the middle of this Month quite enclose your tender Plants.
β. 1611. Bible, Song Sol. viii. 9. If she bee a dore, we will inclose her with boards of Cedar.
1713. Guardian, No. 1, ¶ 1. A robe or mantle inclosed in a circle of foliages.
1750. trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 227. Whatever extraneous Matter it finds, is inclosed in the Gum.
b. In mod. use esp.: To place (a letter or document) for transmission within the cover of another. Also said of the containing letter.
1768. Bp. Warburton, Lett. Eminent Divine (1809), 422. I looked over my papers to see if I could explain the matter in another sheet, which I would have inclosed.
Mod. (Comm.) I beg to enclose my price list. I have received his letter enclosing a cheque.
4. In various occasional uses:
† a. To blindfold (the eyes). Obs.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 102 b. [Jason] made them to ere foure mesures of lond, enclosing their eyen.
† b. To harness, put in the shafts. Obs. rare–1.
1615. Chapman, Odyss., III. 658/45. They went to Coach, and did their horse inclose [Gr. ζεύγνυντο].
† d. To fasten (a door). Obs. rare.
1563. Becon, Articles Chr. Relig., xix. We celebrate the mysteryes, the dores beyng shut and enclosed.
5. Of things: To surround, bound on all sides; to envelop, contain.
a. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 6610. Þe sese … encloses alle be erthe oboute.
1382. Wyclif, Jonah ii. 6. Depnesse encloside me.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist., IV. IX. 294. A province enclosed between Cilicia and Cappadocia.
1834. McMurtrie, Cuvier’s Anim. Kingd., 409. The semi-nymph only differs from the larva in the presence of the cases which enclose the wings.
1884. Bower & Scott, De Bary’s Phaner. & Ferns, 585. A normal cambium … encloses a large pith.
1887. Stevenson, Underwoods, I. i. 1. A house with lawns enclosing it.
b. Math. Of lines or surfaces: To bound on all sides (a portion of space); also (loosely) to intercept (an angle).
1762. Simson, Euclid’s Elem., I. 7, Axiom. Two straight lines cannot inclose a space.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 2. 15. The number of degrees in the angle enclosed by the two mirrors.
1885. Watson & Burbury, Math. Th. Electr. & Magn., I. 63. The space within any closed surface S′ enclosing S.
6. Of an army, a number of persons, etc.: To surround, hem in on all sides.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., V. iii. 27. Titinius is enclosed round about With Horsemen.
1611. Bible, Judg. xx. 43. They inclosed the Beniamites round about.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 617. They … half enclose him round With all his Peers.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch, I. (1879), I. 125/1. The rest of the forces … enclosed the enemy’s rear.
1865–6. H. Phillips, Amer. Paper Curr., II. 91. Endeavor to enclose the British army and navy in the Delaware bay.
