v. Also 4–6 enlase, 6, 9 inlace. [a. F. enlace-r = Pr. enlassar, Sp. enlazar, Pg. enlaçar, It. inlacciare:—late L. *inlaciāre, f. in- (see IN-) + *laci-us (OF. las LACE, snare = It. laccio, Sp. lazo):—L. laqueus noose. Cf. L. illaqueāre. In later use taken as f. EN-1 + LACE.]

1

  1.  trans. To lace about, encircle tightly with many folds or coils. Also fig.

2

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., I. iv. 13. Þat man … enlaceþ hym in þe cheyne wiþ whiche he may be drawen.

3

1430.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. xxx. To perce nerfe and vayne And them enlace in his [Cupid’s] fyry chayne.

4

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. iii. 17. To breke the bondes of the deuyll, of ye whiche he hym helde enlasyd.

5

1587.  Turberv., Trag. T. (1837), 163. And felt himselfe enlaste in love.

6

1859.  Tennent, Ceylon, II. IX. vi. 520. The figs, and particularly the banyan … speedily seize upon the palmyra, enlacing it with their nimble shoots.

7

1877.  Daily News, 26 Dec., 3/1. They will enlace him in the coils of their red tape till he will be unable to move a finger.

8

  b.  transf. To surround closely, enfold, embrace.

9

1633.  P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., V. xi. 49. The second all the Citie round enlaces. Ibid., Elisa, ii. 49. 130. While he again her in his arms enlaced.

10

1865.  Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., IX. XX. v. 78. The old Town … is enlaced … by a set of lakes and quagmires.

11

  2.  To interlace, entwine, entangle. Also fig.

12

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., V. i. 149. Þe questioun of þe deuyne purueance is enlaced wiþ many oþer questiouns.

13

1509.  Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 241. The violet … in bosome by me alway I beare, The same oft time inlased with my heare.

14

1868.  Hawthorne, Amer. Note-Bks. (1879), I. 65. The leafy boughs and twigs of the underbrush enlace themselves.

15

1870.  Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 200. His fingers lovingly enlaced By other fingers.

16

  3.  To cover as with a network.

17

1850.  Kingsley, Alt. Locke, xxxvi. (1879), 375. The vast plains of Hindostan, enlaced with myriad silver rivers and canals.

18

  † 4.  [See UNLACE, LACE vbs.] To take off (the wings of a bird) in carving. Obs.

19

c. 1460.  J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk. (1868), 142. Take capoun or hen so enlased, & devide.

20

  Hence Enlaced ppl. a.

21

1851.  Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., 56. Doth he … Keep house … with inlaced Bare brawny arms about his favourite child.

22