Dictionary.com
definitions

engross

[en-grohs]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR engross ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to occupy completely, as the mind or attention; absorb: Their discussion engrossed his attention. She is engrossed in her work.
to write or copy in a clear, attractive, large script or in a formal manner, as a public document or record: to engross a deed.
to acquire the whole of (a commodity), in order to control the market; monopolize.

RELATED WORDS

bewitch, immerse, enthrall, captivate, preoccupy, enrapture, fascinate, grip, hog, engage, consume, soak, arrest, assimilate, absorb, involve, occupy, busy, engulf, corner

Origin of engross

1275–1325; Middle English engros(s)en to gather in large quantities, draft (a will, etc.) in final form < Anglo-French engrosser, partly < Medieval Latin ingrossāre to thicken, write large and thick (Latin in- in-2 + gross(us) thick + -āre infinitive suffix); partly < Anglo-French, Middle French en gros in quantity, wholesale < Latin in + grossus; see gross
Related formsen·gross·ed·ly [en-groh-sid-lee, -grohst-] /ɛnˈgroʊ sɪd li, -ˈgroʊst-/, adverben·gross·er, nounre·en·gross, verb (used with object)self-en·grossed, adjectiveun·en·grossed, adjective

Synonyms for engross

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR engross ON THESAURUS.COM
1. involve, immerse, engage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for engross

Historical Examples of engross

  • The novelty of the whole scene appeared for an instant to engross her attention.

    Imogen

    William Godwin

  • Is it not rather for them a conspiracy to engross its advantages for the favoured few?

  • Not that he took little interest in it, but it had no power to absorb and engross him.

    Barrington

    Charles James Lever

  • He had matters on hand of greater moment to engross his attention.

    A Pirate of Parts

    Richard Neville

  • Had we not had serious work before us, it was one to engross all our thoughts.

    Tales of the Sea

    W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for engross

engross

verb (tr)

to occupy one's attention completely; absorb
to write or copy (manuscript) in large legible handwriting
law to write or type out formally (a deed, agreement, or other document) preparatory to execution
another word for corner (def. 21b)
Derived Formsengrossed, adjectiveengrossedly (ɪnˈɡrəʊsɪdlɪ), adverbengrosser, noun

Word Origin for engross

C14 (in the sense: to buy up wholesale): from Old French en gros in quantity; C15 (in the sense: to write in large letters): probably from Medieval Latin ingrossāre; both from Latin grossus thick, gross
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for engross
v.

c.1400, "to buy up the whole stock of" (in Anglo-French from c.1300), from Old French en gros "in bulk, in a large quantity, at wholesale," as opposed to en detail. See gross.

Figurative sense of "absorb the whole attention" is first attested 1709. A parallel engross, meaning "to write (something) in large letters," is from Anglo-French engrosser, from Old French en gros "in large (letters)." Related: Engrossed; engrossing.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper