v. arch. Forms: 4–5 ensele, (5 enceyl), 6–7 enseal(l)e, 5– enseal. Also 5–7 inseal. [a. OFr. enseel-er, enceel-er, enseal-er, f. en- (see EN-1) + seel (mod. sceau, SEAL.]
1. trans. To affix a seal to (a document); to attest or confirm by sealing.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 258. Boþe to hold couenanz with scrite enselid þe dede.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 112. In þe date of þe deuel þis dede I assele [v.r. ensele].
1443. Test. Ebor. (1855), II. 134. A speciall wille enceylyd with the seale of myn armes.
1466. in Paston Lett., No. 554, II. 284. Divers old deeds, some without date, insealed under autenticke seales.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 107 b. The heire of the disseysour that ensealeth the deede.
a. 1709. Atkyns, Parl. & Pol. Tracts (1734), 175. The Statutes … require Indentures ensealed by the Electors to be tack’d to the Writ.
fig. a. 1500. Chaucer’s Dreme, 1016. For every thing he said there, Seemed as it insealed were.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 444. That one onely Sacrifice, which Christ … did enseale, and Ratify with his owne precious body.
b. To put a seal or stamp upon (a measure or weight) in token of its being up to the standard.
1467. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 383. That it be made after the wyght ensealed accordynge to the kynges standard.
c. 1610. in Gutch, Coll. Cur., II. 15. That every Vintner have their pots and their measures sized and insealed after the standard of the University.
2. To close with a seal, seal up.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, Prol. Þis boke is cald garthen closed wel enseled.
1465. Paston Lett., No. 502, II. 187. A box enselyd with hys owyn seall.
1613. Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 22. A boxe insealed with charters.
1714. Scroggs, Courts-leet (ed. 3), 110. A Box ensealed with writings.
1886. R. F. Burton, Arab. Nts. (abridged), I. 78. A well-shut house With keyless locks and doors ensealed.
fig. c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, V. 151. But this enseled [v.r. ensealed] til an other day.
