Forms: α. 4–5 enviroun, -vyroun, (4–5 enverom, -on), 4–7 envyron, (4 envyrown, -weron, 5 enverroun, -wyroun, 5–6 environne), 4– environ. β. 6 invyroun, -veron, (6–7 invi(e)orn), 6–8 inviron. [a. F. environ-ner in AF. c. 1300), f. environ round about: see ENVIRON adv.]
1. trans. Of things: To form a ring round, surround, encircle. Also fig. of circumstances or conditions, esp. (with notion of 2 b) of dangers, troubles, etc.
c. 1400. Maundev., v. (1839), 45. This Ryvere … envyronnethe all Ethiop.
c. 1430. Lydg., Compl. Bl. Knt., xii. The bankys rounde, the welle environyng.
15[?]. in Athenæum (1870), 6 Aug., 181. All invieorned on the South parte with a freshe water ryver.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, III. xii. 208. Ilands environed by the sea, with good shippings.
1670–98. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. 21. The circle of white marble pavement which environeth the altar of St. Peter.
1681. Colvil, Whigs Supplic. (1751), 24. A cowl lin’d with iron, Which did his temples so inviron.
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, I. vi. 116. Amidst Such Quickening Flames, as Environ and Surround It!
1816. W. Hollar, Holbein’s Dance of Death, 69. A great cloister, environing a plot of ground.
1872. Jenkinson, Guide Eng. Lakes (1879), 24. A quiet and fertile spot, environed by green meadows.
fig. 1382. Wyclif, Ecclus. li. 5. Manye tribulaciouns that enuyrouneden me.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4632. Mekill variaunce of vertus enveronis oure saules.
1563. Foxe, A. & M., III. 297. Hypocrisie, arrogancy, and obstinate security environ me.
1604. T. Wright, Passions, V. § 4. 191. A number of sound and substantiall reasons … enuiron the question proposed on euery side.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. III. 78.
| Ay me! what perils do inviron | |
| The Man that meddles with cold Iron! |
1686. Voy. Emp. China into W. Tartary, in Misc. Cur. (1708), III. 199. All the Marks of Grandure, with which he was inviorned at the Court at Pekin.
1851. D. Mitchell, Fresh Gleanings, 106. Whatever pleasant or painful circumstances may environ me.
† b. To include, take in (a certain space). Obs.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 166. The ruines of which building … do environne almost ten acres of grounde.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr. (1864), 18. The whole Monarchie enuironeth nine hundred leagues.
c. To surround, encircle, encompass with anything. Also fig. Chiefly pass.
1382. Wyclif, Luke xix. 43. Thin enemyes schulen enuyroune thee with pale.
c. 1400. Maundev., xxvii. (1839), 278. And alle envyround with ston of Jaspre.
1536. Act 26 Henry VIII., c. 12. A Parke, walled and enuyronned with brycke and stone.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, 13. Where … they may enuiron themselues with water on euerie side.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., II. 67. Peloponnesus … is all inuironed with the sea, saue onely at a narrow strait.
1658. Evelyn, Fr. Gard., II. § 2 (1675), 161. Inviron them with dung to blanch them.
1701. Law, Counc. Trade (1789), 105. Our coasts were … invironed and surrounded with fish.
1748. Anson, Voy., II. xii. 261. The harbour is invironed on all sides … with high mountains.
1864. Boutell, Heraldry Hist. & Pop., xxiv. (ed. 3), 407. The Royal Shield of England environed with the fleurs de lys of France.
fig. 1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethicks, xxv. 384. The holy Soul of a quiet Man is … invironed with its own repose.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, II. iii. 130. Were environed with delights both from nature and art.
1847. J. Wilson, Chr. North (1857), I. 422. Our boyhood was environed with the beautiful.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. iii. 81. That enthusiasm in himself which would environ him with wonder.
2. Of persons: To form a ring round, stand round, throng; to be in attendance upon; to be stationed round, as guards. Also, To surround † of, with (persons).
1382. Wyclif, Zech. ix. 8. And y shal enuyroune myn hous of these that holden knyȝthode to me.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 253. There founden they … Lucrece … all environed With women.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, lix. 158. We enuyronne hym rounde aboute wyth goode men of armes.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 5569. The Angellis of the Ordoris Nyne Inueron sall that throne Diuyne.
1598. Yong, Diana, 94. Enuironed rounde about with a troupe of Nymphes.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, III. XII. 650. He dy’d environ’d by three of his Children, several Divines, and all his Domestick Servants.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), II. III. vii. 151. Every Christian was environed with a world of invisible beings.
b. To surround with hostile intention; to beset; to beleaguer (a city, fortress, etc.). Also, To beset with.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XI. 640. All enveronyt vith fayis is he.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3617. To enverom alle þe vaward of all þe vile yndes.
1475. Caxton, Jason (1477), 17. Jason was enuironned and assayled on alle sides.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 748. The Capitaines … planted a strong siege, and enuironed it [the Castell] round about.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turkes (1638), 92. They hauing long before so streitly inuironed the city.
1761–2. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1806), IV. lix. 459. Colonel Pride … had environed the house with two regiments.
3. To surround on all sides, envelop, enclose. Now chiefly of the atmosphere, light, etc. † Formerly also, to wrap up, clothe; to screen or conceal from.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, I. iii. (1483), 4. The Centre of the erthe was wonder derck in itself and was aboute enuyronned by lesse derke mater and lesse.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, 65. Al the thynges that the ayer goth about and enuyronneth. Ibid. (1483), Gold. Leg., 237/1. He sawe an auncient man … enuyronned in a whyte mantel.
1571. Digges, Pantom., IV. xxv. H h j. One comprehending sphere inuironeth all his angles.
1607. Dekker, Hist. Sir T. Wyatt, Wks. (1873), III. 88. Thus like a Nun … Liue I inuirond in a house of stone.
1659. Leak, Water-works, 3. The Pestle … well invironed with leather.
1699. Pomfret, Reason, 155. ’Tis now environ’d from our eyes.
1846. Landor, Hellenics, Wks. (1868), II. 482. Gravely-gladsome light environed them.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 11. 73. We were environed by an atmosphere of perfect purity.
† 4. To describe a circle or make a circuit round; to go round in a circle. Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 7608. And þe heven þat þe erth envirouns.
c. 1400. Maundev. (1839), xvii. 182. Men may envirowne all the Erthe of alle the World, as well undre as aboven and turnen aȝen to his Contree.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 34/2. By envyronyng or goyng aboute the aultre.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1862), 311. I will begin at the North east corner … and from thence environ the whole Bishopricke.
1647. Lilly, Chr. Astrol., cxliiii. 617. The Luminaries [being] in angles not environed of the Planets.
† b. To travel about (a country, etc.). Obs.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Tim. v. 13. Thei ydel lernen for to enuyrowne housis.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), Pref. 1. It lyked him … to enuirun þat land with his blissed fete.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7019. We enviroune bothe londe and se.
