1. To encircle as a ring or girdle; to surround, bound on all sides.
α. 1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., III. VI. (Arb.), 161. The northe landes which the frosen sea encompaseth vnder the north pole.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 688/143. Baleful Styx encompasses around … th’ unhappy ground.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 130. A kind of a city, encompassed all round, the river making a kind of double horse-shoe.
1776. Withering, Bot. Arrangem. (1796), II. 423. Some encompassed with a membranaceous border, deeper than half the breadth of the seed.
1872. Jenkinson, Guide Eng. Lakes, 251. Behind are the mountains encompassing Borrowdale.
β. 1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (1862), 527/2. You have very well declared the originall of their mounts and great stones incompassed.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 79. This Dominion … incompassed their Empire round like a girdle.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. lx. 304. Part of Syria which is incompast with Tigris and Euphrates.
1723. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), II. 221. My iron pallisade that incompasses a square court.
2. Of persons: To surround, form a circle about, whether for protection, in attendance, or with hostile intent. Also fig. Also absol.
α. 1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., II. I. (Arb.), 107. Encoompasinge the vyllage where they laye.
1667. Milton, P. L., III. 149. Th’ innumerable sound of Hymns … wherewith thy Throne Encompass’d shall resound thee ever blest.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, Wks. 1760, I. 36. Encompassed with a ring of disciples.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. xxx. 258. His throne was encompassed with domestic enemies.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., CXXVI. ii. I … sleep Encompass’d by his faithful guard.
β. 1590. Webbe, Trav. (Arb.), 24. The Turkes power did incompasse Prester Iohns sonne.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. ii. 53. Hag of all despight, Incompass’d with thy lustfull Paramours.
a. 1699. Lady Halkett, Autobiog. (1875), 72. I was now Incompased with misfortunes.
† b. Of right lines: To contain, include (an angle). Obs. rare–1.
1660. Barrow, Euclid, I. xlvii. Probl. 3. The sides A B, A C, encompassing the right angle.
† 3. To make a circuit about, go all round (anything). Obs.
1640. Wilkins, New Planet, vii. (1707), 216. The Planets … do by their Motion encompass the Body of the Sun.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, IV. iv. 192. Drake encompass’d the World with a Ship.
1727. Swift, Gulliver, II. III. i. 8. I encompassed it almost round before I could find a convenient Place to land in.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), IV. 1275. Mr. Gore encompassed the hill, and joined them.
4. To surround entirely, overlay as with an envelope or shell; to contain.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 35. A thinne skinne … encompassing the shell of the nutte.
1571. Digges, Pantom., IV. xxv. This figure … may be incompassed of a sphere.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 587. A Stalk of Wheat … encompassed with a case of Wood.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., I. vii. (1662), 102. Had onely Faith to live upon, and were incompassed with flesh.
1678. Hobbes, Nat. Philos., ix. 115. I thought nothing had encompassed the Earth but Air.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Phil., I. 56. They are kept together by the air that incompasses them in the receiver.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, vii. 196. Walk in the light with which He encompasses you.
† 5. nonce-use. To outwit, take advantage of, ‘get round’ (a person). Obs.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 158. Ah ha, Mistresse Ford and Mistresse Page, haue I encompass’d you?
