envelopment

[ en-vel-uhp-muhnt ]

/ ɛnˈvɛl əp mənt /

Save This Word!

an act of enveloping.

the state of being enveloped.

a wrapping or covering.

Military. an attack on an enemy's flank.

QUIZZES

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

First recorded in 1755–65; envelop + -ment

pre·en·vel·op·ment, noun

Enveloping attacks result in local frontal attacks; advantage of envelopment.
Manual of Military Training|James A. Moss
They performed an envelopment of the gentlemen and ladies, including the two young women.
The Amazing Marriage, Complete|George Meredith
The advantage of envelopment lies in the longer concentric line, with its preponderance of rifles and its converging fire.
Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911|United States War Department
An envelopment of both flanks should never be attempted without a very decided superiority in numbers.
Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911|United States War Department

This met and grew by the help of the cerebral moisture, and became the circular envelopment of the head.
Timaeus|Plato