† 1. One who buys in large quantities, esp. with the view of being able to secure a monopoly. Also, one who buys up large quantities of land, or obtains possession of many tenements, to the detriment of his neighbors. Obs. exc. Hist.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1875), 135. The said brogers and engrossers of offices.
1549. Latimer, 1st Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 33. Ingrossers of tenamentes and landes, throughe whose couetousnes, villages decaye and fall downe.
1636. Healey, Life Epictetus, A vi. That is, to the vnlearned engrosser of books.
1692. Tryon, Good Housew., xix. 171. The first Ingrossers and Buyers thereof [Canary] were Apothecaries.
1778. R. H. Lee, in Sparks, Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853), II. 216. An artificial scarcity, created in the midst of plenty, by an infamous set of engrossers.
1783. Burke, Report Affairs India, Wks. XI. 144. The engrossers of opium.
b. One who ‘monopolizes’ or obtains exclusive possession of (anything).
1630. Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 52. My Lord of Essex was noted for too bold an ingrosser both of fame and favour.
1729. Gay, Polly, III. Wks. (1772), 198. I am too no engrosser of power.
1782. V. Knox, Ess., No. 121 (1783), II. 154 (R.). The engrossers of that part of the creation which God and nature have constituted free as the seas and the winds.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, v. You should, in compassion, cease to be such an engrosser.
2. One who copies (a document) in large fair character, or in legal style; † an engrossing clerk.
1607. Dekker, Knt.’s Conjur. (1842), 20. Euery market day you may take him in Cheap-side, poorely attyrde like an ingrosser.
