encroach
[en-krohch]
- to advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits; make gradual inroads: A dictatorship of the majority is encroaching on the rights of the individual.
- to trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, especially stealthily or by gradual advances.
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Origin of encroach
Synonyms
See more synonyms for encroach on Thesaurus.com1, 2. See trespass.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for encroaching
Contemporary Examples
The parallels Hong Kong readers find between the encroaching Titans and China have made it a huge success there.
“Scorched earth,” historically, means destroying land to deprive the encroaching enemy of its use.
“I realized these rude people were encroaching upon my personal life—my own fault, mind you—for opening the door,” he said.
When he falls in love with human Grace, he must fight the encroaching winter and the change it will bring.
Or will this encroaching uneasiness with Obama stay limited to this one snapshot in time in this one Southern state?
Historical Examples
I then placed sentinels to prevent the crowd from encroaching on us.
Reminiscences of Forts Sumter and Moultrie in 1860-'61Abner Doubleday
He had no thought of encroaching upon the lands of the Indians, or of erecting any forts in antagonism to them.
In spite of the headwind, the fire was encroaching forward as well as aft.
Chatterbox, 1906Various
The encroaching British were working their way into every open water in America.
All AfloatWilliam Wood
No encroaching politeness in the act, but kindness, unadorned.
The Confidence-ManHerman Melville
encroach
- (often foll by on or upon) to intrude gradually, stealthily, or insidiously upon the rights, property, etc, of another
- to advance beyond the usual or proper limits
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Word Origin
C14: from Old French encrochier to seize, literally: fasten upon with hooks, from en- 1 + croc hook, of Germanic origin; see crook
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for encroaching
encroach
v.
early 14c., "acquire, get," from Old French encrochier "seize, fasten on, hang on (to), cling (to); hang up, suspend," literally "to catch with a hook," from en- "in" (see en- (1)) + croc "hook," from Old Norse krokr "hook" (see crook). Meaning "seize wrongfully" is from c.1400. Sense of "trespass" is first recorded 1530s. Related: Encroached; encroaches; encroaching.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper