| 释义 |
encompass, v.|ɛnˈkʌmpəs|
Also 6–8 incompass.
[f. en-1 + compass n.; cf. obs. Sp. encompasar of equivalent formation.]
1. To encircle as a ring or girdle; to surround, bound on all sides.
α1555Eden Decades W. Ind. iii. vi. (Arb.) 161 The northe landes which the frosen sea encompaseth vnder the northe pole. 1697Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 688 Baleful Styx encompasses around..th' unhappy Ground. 1725De Foe Voy. round W. (1840) 130 A kind of a city, encompassed all round, the river making a kind of double horse-shoe. 1776Withering Bot. Arrangem. (1796) II. 423 Some encompassed with a membranaceous border, deeper than half the breadth of the seed. 1872Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lakes 251 Behind are the mountains encompassing Borrowdale.
β1596Spenser State Irel. Wks. (1862) 527/2 You have very well declared the originall of their mounts and great stones incompassed. 1652Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 79 This Dominion..incompassed their Empire round like a girdle. 1659Hammond On Ps. lx. 304 Part of Syria which is incompast with Tigris and Euphrates. 1723Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) II. 221 My iron pallisade that incompasses a square court.
2. a. Of persons: To surround, form a circle about, whether for protection, in attendance, or with hostile intent. Also fig. Also absol.
α1555Eden Decades W. Ind. ii. i. (Arb.) 107 Encoompasinge the vyllage where they laye. 1667Milton P.L. iii. 149 Th' innumerable sound of Hymns..wherewith thy Throne Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. 1704Swift T. Tub Wks. 1760 I. 36 Encompassed with a ring of disciples. 1781Gibbon Decl. & F. II. xxx. 258 His throne was encompassed with domestic enemies. 1850Tennyson In Mem. cxxvi. ii, I..sleep Encompass'd by his faithful guard.
β1590Webbe Trav. (Arb.) 24 The Turkes power did incompasse Prester Iohns sonne. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 53 Hag of all despight, Incompass'd with thy lustfull Paramours. a1699A. Halkett Autobiog. (1875) 72, I was now Incompased with misfortunes.
†b. Of right lines: To contain, include (an angle). Obs. rare—1.
1660Barrow Euclid. i. xlvii. Probl. 3 The sides A B, A C, encompassing the right angle.
†3. To make a circuit about, go all round (anything). Obs.
1640Wilkins New Planet vii. (1707) 216 The Planets..do by their Motion encompass the Body of the Sun. 1654Gayton Pleas. Notes iv. iv. 192 Drake encompass'd the world with a ship. 1727Swift Gulliver iii. i. 179, I encompassed it almost round before I could find a convenient place to land in. 1772–84Cook Voy. (1790) IV. 1275 Mr. Gore encompassed the hill, and joined them.
4. To surround entirely, overlay as with an envelope or shell; to contain.
1553Eden Treat. New Ind. (Arb.) 35 A thinne skinne..encompassing the shell of the nutte. 1571Digges Pantom. iv. xxv, This figure..may be incompassed of a sphere. 1626Bacon Sylva §587 A Stalk of Wheat..encompassed with a case of Wood. 1650Baxter Saints' R. i. vii. (1662) 102 Had onely Faith to live upon, and were incompassed with flesh. 1678Hobbes Nat. Philos. ix. 115, I thought nothing had encompassed the Earth but Air. 1794G. Adams Nat. & Exp. Phil. I. 56 They are kept together by the air that incompasses them in the receiver. 1875H. E. Manning Mission H. Ghost vii. 192 Walk in the light with which He encompasses you.
†5. nonce-use. To outwit, take advantage of, ‘get round’ (a person). Obs.
1598Shakes. Merry W. ii. ii. 158 Ah ha, Mistresse Ford and Mistresse Page, haue I encompass'd you?
6. Used for compass v.1 2.
1882P. Robinson Under Sun iii. v. 201 Whatever the method employed for encompassing his death. 1889Mrs. H. L. Cameron Lost Wife I. iv. 69 What earthly reason could Captain Thistleby have for encompassing my destruction? |