Obs. in sing. In 4 envyroun, -own. [a. OF. sing. environ (subsequently a mod.F. pl. environs), f. the adv.: see ENVIRON adv.]
† 1. In ME. sing. Compass, circuit. Only in phrases By, in environ, by environ of; = F. à l’environ (de).
1382. Wyclif, Gen. xxiii. 17. The feeld … as wel it as the spelunk and alle the trees of it, in alle the termes of it bi enuyroun. Ibid., Ex. vii. 24. Alle the Egipciens deluyden bi enuyroun of the floode. Ibid., Mark vi. 6. And he wente aboute castelis in enuyrown, techinge.
2. In mod. Eng. pl. Environs. The outskirts, surrounding districts, of a town.
1665. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 419. The pestilence still increasing in London and its Environs.
1750. Chesterf., Lett., III. ccxxix. 43. When you go to Genoa, pray observe carefully all the environs of it.
1772–84. Cook, Voy. (1790), V. 1808. The environs of Hudson’s Bay.
1831. Sir J. Sinclair, Corr., II. 184. The neighbourhood of Brock is quite enchanting … with its painted houses … and delightful environs.
1847–8. H. Miller, First Impr., xix. (1857), 331. Without having once seen the sun shine on the city or its environs.
b. transf. in sing. rare–1. Surrounding.
1823. Byron, Let. Ld. Blessington, 14 April. The peccant part and its immediate environ are … black.
