Engross

v. Forms: α. 4 engrosy, 5–7 engrose, 6–7 engrosse, 5 engroce, 5– engross. β. 5–8 ingrosse, 5–7 ingrose, (5 ingroos), 5–6 ingroce. [Three distinct formations, from elements ultimately identical. (1) In senses 1–2 a. AF. engrosse-r (med.L. ingrossāre) to write in large letters, f. grosse = med.L. grossa large writing, a transcript in large letters (fem. of grossus large, thick: see GROSS a.). (2) In senses 3–7 f. phrase in gross, Fr. en gros = ‘in the lump, by wholesale.’ AF. engrosser and Anglo-Lat. ingrossare in sense 3 are found in the Statutes. (3) In senses 8–11 a. Fr. engrosser to make big, thick, or gross, corresp. to Pr. engrossar, Sp. engrosar, It. ingrossare:—late L. ingrossāre, f. in- (see IN-) + gross-us stout, thick, GROSS.]

  I.  To write in large.

  1.  trans. To write in large letters; chiefly, and now almost exclusively, to write in a peculiar character appropriate to legal documents; hence, to write out or express in legal form. Also absol.

  α.  [1304.  Year-bks. 32–33 Edw. I., 315. Quant une fin est engrossé em ne resortira james a bref ne a note chalanger.]

c. 1430.  Lydg., Story Thebes, 2098. Engrosed vp … And enrolled only for witnesse In ȝoure regestres.

1467.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 379. The actes of the yelde … shullen be enacted and engrossed in a quayer of parchemyn.

1557.  Order of Hospitalls, F vij. The whole accompt … yow shall engrosse and write faire into a Booke.

1591.  Wills & Inv. N. C. (1860), II. 199. For engrossing his will, twice unto paipar, after unto parchment.

1595.  Spenser, Col. Clout, 636. Her name … I will … in the ground … engrosse, And fill with stones.

1632.  Star Chamb. Cases (1886), 164. Bampton and his wife brought their answere readie drawen to him and desired him to engrosse it.

1664–5.  Pepys, Diary, II. 337. The story of the several Archbishops of Canterbury, engrossed in vellum.

1735.  Pope, Prol. Sat., 18. A clerc … Who pens a Stanza when he should engross.

1818.  Cruise, Digest, v. 79. The fine being engrossed and completed as a fine of Michaelmas term.

1818.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., xxiv. The Clerk of Court, proceeded to engross in the record the yet unknown verdict.

1860.  Forster, Gr. Remonstr., 213. That the Declaration should be duly engrossed, and again brought in the next day.

  β.  1564.  Bulleyn, Dial. agst. Feuer Pest (1888), 21. Wee haue drawen and ingrossed his bookes.

1587.  Harrison, England, II. viii. (1877), I. 176. They will haue the bille ingrossed, that is to saie, put in parchment.

1600.  Holland, Livy, IV. 147. This was openly ingrossed in publicke Tables.

1640–4.  in Rushw., Hist. Coll., III. (1692), I. 350. The Charge ingrossed against Inigo Jones upon the Complaint of the Parishioners of St. Gregories … was read.

1660.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. vi. 25. The Bill, upon reading the amendments, was ordered to be ingrossed.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 314. Having therefore read over and explained the Instructions I had received from the proprietors, for the light-keepers, fairly ingrossed.

  † b.  Hence, to put into regular shape; to arrange (a matter). Obs.

1430.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. xxxiv. To call his lordes … And his lyeges to assemble yfere Fynally to engroce this mattere.

1526.  Skelton, Magnyf., 2467. Yet, let us se thys matter thorowly ingrosed.

  † c.  To name in a formal document, to write the name of; hence, to include in a list. Obs.

1589.  Nashe, in Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), Introd. 6. Mongst this kinde of men … I can but ingrosse some deepe read Grammarians.

1605.  Answ. Supposed Discov. Romish Doctr., 2. Engrossing him in the Catalogue of censured, excommunicate and denounced Hereticks.

1621.  Quarles, Argalus & P. (1678), 36. T’ingross their names within his Register.

1660.  Sharrock, Vegetables, 2. They … stand aloof from the knowledge of most of the particulars therein to be ingrost.

  † 2.  transf. To portray in large. Obs. rare^–1.

1538.  Leland, Itin., VI. 3. An High Tumbe of Marble, but no Image engrossid on it.

  II.  To deal with ‘in the gross.’

  † 3.  To buy up wholesale; esp. to buy up the whole stock, or as much as possible, of (a commodity) for the purpose of ‘regrating’ or retailing it at a monopoly price. Obs. exc. Hist.

a. 1400.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 353. No regratour ne go owt of town for to engrosy þe chaffare.

1591.  G. Fletcher, Russe Commw. (1857), 9. Their nobilitie … use to engrosse it.

1622.  Misselden, Free Trade, 71. Some one or few … doe ioine together to engrosse and buy in a Commodity.

a. 1640.  Day, Parl. Bees (1881), 73. Fucus, you That engrost our Hony deaw, Bought wax and honey up by th’ great.

1647.  May, Hist. Parl., I. ii. 17. Disarming the people by engrossing of Gunpowder … and setting so high a rate upon it.

1827.  Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), II. viii. 35. One man was fined and set in the pillory for engrossing corn.

1872.  Yeats, Growth Comm., 379. Edicts … against engrossing the market.

  β.  1548.  Cranmer, Catech., 77. Forstallyng, regratyng … ingrossing of marchaundise.

1622.  Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 123. Salt … they by authoritie did ingrosse for the king.

1672.  Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 262. You have so ingrossed and bought up all the ammunition of Railing.

  † b.  with reference to land. Obs.

1719.  W. Wood, Surv. Trade, 172. The false … notion … induces them to Engross great Tracts of Land.

1728.  Swift, Answ. Memorial. Grasiers … were ready to ingross great quantities of land.

1767.  A. Young, Farm. Lett. to People, 53. Complaints are every where made of engrossing farms.

  4.  transf. and fig. † a. To get together, collect from all quarters; also to engross up (obs.). b. To gain or keep exclusive possession of; to concentrate (property, trade, privileges, functions) in one’s own possession (often with the notion of unfairness or injury to others); to ‘monopolize.’

  α.  1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 148. Percy is but my Factor, good my Lord, To engrosse vp glorious Deedes on my behalfe.

1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., IV. ii. 16. An’ you engrosse ’hem all for your owne use.

1628.  Ford, Lover’s Mel., II. i. (1629), 18. How that you, Aretus, and I, ingrosse (Out of particular Ambition) Th’affaires of gouernment.

1643.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., II. § 5 (1656). 142. Now with my friend I desire not to share or participate, but to engrosse his sorrowes.

1694.  Dr. Slare, in Phil. Trans., XVIII. 218. He … engrossed all the Pyrites or Copperas-stone to himself.

a. 1740.  Tickell, To Addison on Cato, Wks. (1796), 91 (R.).

1781.  J. Moore, View Soc. It., I. iii. 24. The men being allowed to engross as many women as they can maintain.

1832.  Austin, Jurispr. (1879), I. vi. 243. In most actual societies the sovereign powers are engrossed by a single member of the whole.

a. 1862.  Buckle, Civiliz. (1869), III. iv. 212. Seeing a single person engross the conversation.

  β.  1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 203. I haue … ingross’d opportunities to meete her. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., III. vii. 37. Your Marriners are Militers, Reapers, people Ingrost by swift Impresse.

1641.  Wilkins, Math. Magick, I. xi. (1648), 75. Abundance of wealth … was then ingrossed in the possession of some few particular persons.

1645.  Milton, Tetrach. (1851), 153. Som … would ingrosse to themselves the whole trade of interpreting.

1691–8.  Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 310. Alms-giving … is so eminent a part of Charity that it has in a Manner ingross’d the Name of it.

1775.  Adair, Amer. Ind., 457. Our rulers ought not to allow so mischievous and dangerous a body as the Muskohge to ingross this vast forest, mostly for wild beasts.

1790.  Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., 309. Grasping at an opportunity to ingross this trade to themselves.

  † c.  nonce-use. To attribute exclusively to.

1641.  Vind. Smectymnuus, § 7. 95. A power of remitting sinnes, which we hope he will not ingrosse to Bishops excluding Presbyters.

  5.  Of things: To require the entire use of, take altogether to itself; to occupy entirely, absorb.

1602.  Warner, Alb. Eng., XII. lxxiii. (1612), 304. Skarlet Hats, Stoles, and Coules too much ingrost the sport.

1655.  Fuller, Ch. Hist., VII. i. § 21. Norfolke Rebellion, as nearer London, engrossed all warlike provisions.

1768.  Beattie, Minstr., II. xxvii. (1774), 14 (R.).

1804.  Colebrooke, Husb. & Comm. Bengal (1806), 154. From this country [India], whence the dye obtains its name, Europe was antiently supplied with it [indigo], until the produce of America engrossed the market.

1846.  M’Culloch, Acc. Brit. Empire (1854), I. 527. Potatoes engross the whole manure of the little farmers.

1874.  Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. lxxx. 8. The old trees, which long had engrossed the soil.

  b.  Of an object of thought or feeling: To draw entirely to itself, occupy exclusively, absorb (the affections, attention, mind, time, etc.).

  α.  1665.  Glanvill, Sceps. Sci., viii. 46. Philosophy would not have engross’d our Pen.

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, I. 119. If man alone engross not Heaven’s high care.

1746–7.  Collins, Poems (1796), 112. They, whose sight such dreary dreams engross.

1769.  Junius Lett., xi. 44. A measure so singularly daring that it … engrosses all our resentment.

1781.  Cowper, Lett., 2 April. My morning is engrossed by the garden.

1820.  Hazlitt, Lect. Dram. Lit., 4. Letting the generation we live in engross nearly all our admiration.

1868.  E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. iii. 45. The captain obtained his audience, and engrossed the watchfulness of the retainers.

  β.  1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., III. i. (1669), 163. Without leaving behind them any thing that can so much as entertain our Sight in the very place, where before they ingross’d it.

1742.  Richardson, Pamela, IV. 148. This will so ingross the dear Lady’s Pen.

1777.  Watson, Philip II. (1793), I. IX. II. 368. The attention of the French king was ingrossed.

  6.  To absorb or engage the whole attention or all the faculties of.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 50, ¶ 1. Orlando believed himself … not to be engross’d by any particular Affection.

1729.  Butler, Serm., Wks. (1874), II. 135. The degree in which self-love engrosses us.

1814.  Jane Austen, Lady Susan, xx. (1879), 247. The folly of the young man and the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him.

1856.  Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xxii. 219. Marsumah and Meteh had been engrossed with their bird-catching.

1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, viii. 118. He was entirely engrossed in attending to her wants.

  ¶ 7.  In certain strained fig. uses, app. derived from 3: † a. To include altogether (obs. rare^–1; suggested by the rhyme). † b. In 17th c.: To get hold of (an idea); to conceive (a sentiment) (obs.).

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., 170. Almyghty God in persons thre, Alle in oone substance ay ingroost.

1632.  Heywood, Iron Age, II. v. Wks. 1874, III. 429. Proiects … for which I haue ingrost a mortall enuy here.

1633.  Ford, Broken H., III. iii. F ij b. Thou hast there ingrost Some rarity of vvit to grace the Nuptials Of thy faire sister.

a. 1643.  W. Cartwright, To King on Return fr. Scotl. (1810), 515/2 (R.). Your prolong’d delay Had almost made our jealousy engross New fears.

  III.  To render gross, dense or bulky.

  † 8.  To render (fluids) gross or dense; to condense (vapors). Also intr. for refl. Obs.

1561.  Eden, Arte Nauig., II. xix. 51. Rayne is made or engendred of moyste vapours which … are ingroced.

1582.  Hester, Secr. Phiorav., I. xl. 49. The liuer … not beyng able to disgest them [crude humours] … they ingrose and become maligne.

1586.  Cogan, Haven Health, cxli. (1636), 271. Vapours and fumes … being ingrossed by coldnesse of the braine, distil to the lower parts.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. vi. 46. The waves thereof … were Engrost with mud.

  9.  † a. To make (the body) gross or fat; to fatten (obs.). b. To make (the mind) gross or dull (arch.); formerly also intr. for refl.

1587.  Harrison, England, II. vi. (1877), I. 142. They [the Scotch] … so ingrosse their bodies.

1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., III. vii. 76. Meditating with two deepe Diuines Not sleeping, to engrosse his idle Body.

1626.  T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 120. It happeneth to soules, which are great louers of sensuall pleasures, to engrosse, thicken themselues.

a. 1628.  F. Greville, Humane Learn., liii. Poems (1633), 33. Engrosse the minde.

1826.  E. Irving, Babylon, II. VI. 89. They were in the last stage of the heart’s ossification, their faculties engrossed and imbruted.

  † 10.  trans. To make thick or bulky; to increase in size. Obs.

1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XVII. 640/250. A fire inuading citie roofes, is sodainly engrost, And made a wondrous mightie flame.

1624.  Wotton, Archit. (1672), 27. Though Pillars by channelling, be seemingly ingrossed to our Sight.

1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, 47. Materials of weight, as Sauder, wherewith an unconscionable Plummer can ingrosse his Bill.

  † 11.  Mil. [Cf. It. ingrossare in same senses.] To increase the numerical strength of (an army); also, to draw up (a battalion) in a compact body.

1526.  St. Papers, Hen. VIII., VI. 376. Our armye was ingrocyd by the newe comyng of thies lanceknightes.

1581.  Styward, Mart. Discipl., I. 26. The companies being thus doubled & the battailes ingrosed … euerie ensigne maie seeke out his owne band. Ibid., I. 27. Then doubling y^e ranks of these hargubuseirs … they must bee ingrossed.

1650.  Howell, Giraffi’s Rev. Naples, 53. They went on in ingrossing the militia.

1654.  Earl Monm., trans. Bentivoglio’s Warrs Flanders, 202. His Camp was not then very great, but he hoped to have it speedily ingrost by some Germans.