envelop
[verb en-vel-uhp; noun en-vel-uhp, en-vuh-luhp, ahn-]
verb (used with object), en·vel·oped, en·vel·op·ing.
to wrap up in or as in a covering: The long cloak she was wearing enveloped her completely.
to serve as a wrapping or covering for, as a membrane of an organ or a sheath.
to surround entirely.
Military. to attack (an enemy's flank).
noun
Origin of envelop
1350–1400; Middle English envolupen < Old French envoluper, equivalent to en- en-1 + voloper to envelop, of obscure origin; compare Old Provençal (en)volopar, Italian inviluppare to envelop, Italian viluppo tuft, bundle, confusion, referred to Medieval Latin faluppa chaff, wisp of straw, perhaps influenced by the descendants of Latin volvere to roll
Synonyms for envelop
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for enveloping
encircle, drape, enfold, swathe, blanket, surround, shroud, enclose, engulf, wrap, obscure, encompass, swaddle, shield, fence, gird, embrace, guard, overlay, veilExamples from the Web for enveloping
Historical Examples of enveloping
He crossed over, emerging out of the shadows into her enveloping radiance.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
He thought kindly of the enveloping mob that had kept him hidden from Allis, as he thought.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
The darkness was like a cloud down there, enveloping the outer brigands.
Immediately afterwards, however, the obscurity was enveloping.
Mr. Grex of Monte CarloE. Phillips Oppenheim
Then the breeze dropped, and the fog fell thick and enveloping.
Simon DaleAnthony Hope
envelop
verb -lops, -loping or -loped (tr)
Word Origin for envelop
C14: from Old French envoluper, from en- 1 + voluper, voloper, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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envelop
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper