α. Middle English enuyroun, Middle English enuyroun, Middle English enuyrown, 1600s– environ, 1700s enverence (plural, nonstandard).
β. late Middle English invyroun, 1800s invoirn (English regional (south-western)).
environn.
/ᵻnˈvʌɪrən/, /ᵻnˈvʌɪrn̩/, /ɛnˈvʌɪrən/, /ɛnˈvʌɪrn̩/, U.S. /ənˈvaɪrən/, /ənˈvaɪ(ə)rn/, /ɛnˈvaɪrən/, /ɛnˈvaɪ(ə)rn/ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > travelling from place to place [phrase]
by (also in, of) environa1382
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement in circle or curve > [noun] > movement in circle > circular course
ringeOE
virona1380
environa1382
roundness?c1425
circuit1483
orbicular1523
round1539
bouta1542
rundle1574
ring road1828
orbit1831
ring-around1894
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xxiii. 17 Þe felde..as wele hit as þe spelonke & all þe treese of it, in all þe termes of it by enuyroun [L. per circuitum].
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. vii. 24 All þe Egipciens deluyden by enuyroun [L. per circuitum]: þat þei miȝte drynken water of þe flode.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Mark vi. 6 He wente aboute castelis in enuyrown [L. in circuitu] techinge.
a1450 (a1400) Medit. Life & Passion of Christ (BL Add.) (1921) l. 1088 (MED) Ihesu is so swete of soun, It clenseþ þe eyr of invyroun.
2.
a. In plural. The areas surrounding a place (frequently an urban area); one's surroundings.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > [noun] > that which or one who is near > a near place > neighbourhood (of a place)
vicinagea1325
neighbourhoodc1450
precincts1479
neighboured1555
verge1641
adjacency1646
voisinage1649
environsc1660
vicinity1781
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > part of town or city > [noun] > suburb > collectively
suburbc1350
suburbans?c1400
suburblec1540
outshifts1592
skirts1616
environsc1660
outpart1722
outlets1762
suburbia1870
'burb1977
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1641 (1955) II. 38 It stands upon Contribution Land, which subjects the environs to the Spanish incursions.
1665 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) I. 419 The pestilence still increasing in London and its Environs.
1750 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 9 July (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1566 When you go to Genoa, pray observe carefully all the environs of it.
1787 T. Jefferson Tour S. France Mar.–June in Papers (1955) XI. 441 All the environs of Genoa are in olives, figs, oranges, mulberries, corn and garden stuff.
1790 Coll. Voy. round World V. xi. 1808 The environs of Hudson's Bay.
1831 J. Sinclair Corr. II. 184 The neighbourhood of Brock is quite enchanting..with its painted houses..and delightful environs.
1847 H. Miller First Impressions Eng. xix. 366 I quitted London,..without having once seen the sun shine on the city or its environs.
1883 Eng. Guide to Nice ii. 44 It has been impossible for me to give a tenth part of the excursions which can be made in the environs of Nice.
1926 Amer. Mercury Apr. 408/1 Immediately it creates in my mind the picture of sordid environs, low companions, sawdust on floors.
1961 M. Spark Prime of Miss Jean Brodie vi. 155 She lived in a huge house with a stables in the near environs of Edinburgh.
1977 J. McPhee Coming into Country i. 17 To become a national wild river—to be set aside with its immediate environs as unalterable wild terrain.
2006 Daily Tel. 29 Aug. 21/2 We've lost control of Afghanistan, apart from Kabul and its environs.
b. A surrounding area or district. Also figurative. Now archaic and rare (largely replaced by environment).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > [noun] > that which surrounds > a surrounding space or area > totality of surroundings or environment
circumstancea1340
encompassure1600
environry1600
vironry1600
attendment1646
circumambiency1646
ambience1648
environment1725
circumjacency1751
environ1762
environage1831
setting1841
enshrinement1849
entourage1850
milieu1854
surroundings1861
ambiente1862
mise-en-scène1871
surround1922
Umwelt1964
1762 S. Foote Orators i. 22 A hamlet containing thirty houses, with perhaps an environ of an equal number.
1797 S. Ireland Views on River Wye Pref. p. vi Its environ is not less highly distinguished and dressed by the hand of art with castles, abbies, and villas,..than it is itself favoured by nature.
1823 Ld. Byron Let. 14 Apr. (1980) X. 148 The peccant part [sc. a wart on his face] and its immediate environ are..black.
1882 Van Nostrand's Engin. Mag. Apr. 306/1 That it should extend its environ of national waters to a width of two marine leagues.
1916 A. J. Beveridge Life J. Marshall II. 344 A strenuously Republican environ of Philadelphia.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
environv.
/ᵻnˈvʌɪrən/, /ᵻnˈvʌɪrn̩/, /ɛnˈvʌɪrən/, /ɛnˈvʌɪrn̩/, U.S. /ənˈvaɪrən/, /ənˈvaɪ(ə)rn/, /ɛnˈvaɪrən/, /ɛnˈvaɪ(ə)rn/α. Middle English enueroun, Middle English enuerown, Middle English enueyron, Middle English enuyraunyde (past tense), Middle English enuyroun, Middle English enuyroune, Middle English enuyrounne, Middle English enuyrowne, Middle English enverom, Middle English enveron, Middle English enveroun, Middle English enverroun, Middle English enviroun, Middle English enviroune, Middle English envirowne, Middle English envyrone, Middle English envyroun, Middle English envyroune, Middle English envyrown, Middle English–1500s enuyron, Middle English–1500s enuyronne, Middle English–1600s enuiron, Middle English–1600s envyron, Middle English–1700s environne, Middle English– environ, 1500s enuironne; also Scottish pre-1700 enuiron, pre-1700 enveremyt (past tense, probably transmission error), pre-1700 enveron, pre-1700 enveroun, pre-1700 enweron, pre-1700 enweroun, pre-1700 enwerown, pre-1700 enwyren, pre-1700 enwyrone, pre-1700 enwyroun, pre-1700 enwyroune, pre-1700 enwyrown.
β. 1500s inueron, 1500s invieorn, 1500s invyroun, 1500s–1600s inuiron, 1500s–1600s inuyron, 1500s–1600s inveron, 1500s–1700s inviron, 1600s inviorn; Scottish pre-1700 inueron, pre-1700 inuyron, pre-1700 inveireyn, pre-1700 inveiryn, pre-1700 inveron, pre-1700 inveroun, pre-1700 inviron, pre-1700 inviroun, pre-1700 inwiron, pre-1700 inwirone.
1. † c. transitive. To encompass or take in (a certain space). Obsolete.
a. To form a ring round, surround, encircle.
(a) transitive. figurative. Of a circumstance or condition, esp. (with notion of sense 2a) of danger, trouble, etc.
ΚΠ
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) lxxxvii. 18 Þyn ires..and þy dredefulnisses..compassed me ich dai, as þe water goþ aboute þerþe; hij enuironed [L. circumdederunt] me togidres.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. li. 5 Manye tribulaciouns that enuyrouneden [L. circumdederunt] me.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 4632 Mekill variaunce of vertus enveronis oure saules.
1547 J. Bradford Let. 22 Mar. in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1583) II. 1662/1 Hypocrisie, arrogancy, and obstinate securitie enuiron me.
1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) v. §4. 191 A number of sound and substantiall reasons..environ the question proposed on every side.
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. iii. 163 What perils do inviron The Man that meddles with cold Iron!
1686 in Miscellanea Curiosa (Royal Soc.) (1707) III. 199 All the Marks of Grandure, with which he was inviorned at the Court at Pekin.
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom II. xlix. 111 She knew not one person to whose protection she could have recourse, from the inexpressible woes that environed her.
1796 F. Burney Camilla III. xi. 363 The fear of seeing her altered and spoilt, by the flatteries and dangers which environed her.
1851 D. G. Mitchell Fresh Gleanings 106 Whatever pleasant or painful circumstances may environ me.
1999 N.Y. Times 30 Dec. a27/1 At millennium's end, we are environed by great piles of pompous prognostication.
(b) transitive. literal. Of a physical thing.
ΚΠ
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 28 It [sc. the Nile] envyrouneth all Ethiope.
a1475 J. Shirley Death James (BL Add. 5467) in Miscellanea Scotica (1818) II. 15 (MED) The diche that environd the gardyne of the chambure.
a1600 in Athenæum (1870) 6 Aug. 181 All invieorned on the South parte with a freshe water ryver.
1670 S. Wilson Lassels's Voy. Italy (new ed.) ii. 33 The circle of white marble in the pauement, which enuironeth the Altar of S. Peter.
1681 S. Colvil Mock Poem i. 14 A Cowl lin'd with Iron, Which did his Temples so inviron, That it would cost a world of pains For any to beat out his Brains.
1720 R. Welton tr. T. Alvares de Andrade Sufferings Son of God I. vi. 117 Quickening Flames..Environ and surround me.
a1770 T. Chatterton Compl. Wks. (1971) I. 274 Snow environed the top of the lofty mountain.
1813 Monthly Mag. Oct. 203/1 A great cloister, environing a plot of ground, of old time called Pardon Church Yard.
1872 H. I. Jenkinson Guide Eng. Lake District (1879) 15 This lakelet lies in a quiet and fertile spot, environed by green meadows.
1911 M. Johnston Long Roll xlvii. 657 It was such a seven-leagues of woodland as might have environed the hundred-years-asleep court.
1993 New Republic 8 Mar. 11/2 Pets are jolly things to have about. At home I am environed by them.
2005 Independent (Nexis) 4 Feb. 33 Environed by candle-lit Jacobean panelling, the modern-dress court of Sicilia is a bluff world of cigars and brandy.
b. To surround, encircle, or encompass with something. Chiefly in passive. Now rare.
(a) transitive. literal. Of a physical thing.
ΚΠ
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke xix. 43 Thin enemyes schulen enuyroune [L. circumdabunt] thee with pale.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 185 All envyround with ston of jaspre.
1536 Act 26 Hen. VIII c. 12 A Parke, walled and enuyronned with brycke and stone.
1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 13 Where..they may environ themselves with water on everie side.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. ii. 67 Peloponnesus..is all inuironed with the sea, saue onely at a narrow strait.
1658 J. Evelyn tr. N. de Bonnefons French Gardiner 161 Inviron them with dung, to blanch them.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xii. 261 The harbour is invironed on all sides..with high mountains.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 223 Environ'd with a ring of branching elms.
1816 M. Keating Trav. (1817) I. 86 It is environed with walls, but not regularly fortified.
1915 tr. H. G. von Treitschke Germany, France, Russia & Islam 123 Nature..has environed it [sc. the upper Rhine valley] with mountain walls of the same formation.
(b) transitive. figurative. Of a condition, emotion, circumstance, etc.
ΚΠ
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Heb. v. 2 He is enuyrowned with infirmyte.
?1520 A. Barclay tr. Sallust Cron. Warre agaynst Iugurth lxvi. f. xciv Sylla..without tary ledde hym forth and delyuerd hym vnto Marius: whose hert was replenysshed and inuyroned with ioye inestymable.
1595 S. Daniel First Fowre Bks. Ciuile Warres v. x. sig. Aa2v So stands thys rout in desperat comberment, Enuirond round with horror, blood, and shame.
a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 384 The holy Soul of a quiet Man is..invironed with its own repose.
1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho II. iii. 130 They..were environed with delights both from nature and art.
1842 J. Wilson Recreations Christopher North II. 237 Our boyhood was environed by the beautiful.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity I. iii. vi. 414 That enthusiasm in himself which would environ him with wonder.
1958 R. B. Harwell Union Reader 54 This irregular proceeding afterwards environed him with trouble and finally cost him his office.
1995 R. Stam in R. Johnson & R. Stam Brazilian Cinema (expanded ed.) iii. 237 The Brazilian worker..is daily environed with misery.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > extend [verb (transitive)] > extend to
containc1374
to run to ——1528
comprise?1541
environ1596
1596 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent (rev. ed.) 184 The ruines of which building..do enuironne almost ten acres of grounde.
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage v. vi. 405 The whole Monarchie enuironeth nine hundred Leagues.
1794 N. Kent Gen. View Agric. Norfolk 40 His intention is to continue to plant fifty acres every year, till he has completely environed three thousand acres of land.
2.
a. transitive. To surround with hostile intention; to beset (with); to beleaguer (a city, fortress, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > action or state of siege or blockade > besiege or blockade [verb (transitive)]
belieOE
besita1100
beset?c1225
assiege1297
besiege1297
belayc1320
umsiegea1325
ensiegec1380
environa1382
to set before1382
siege1390
forset?a1400
foldc1400
setc1400
to lay siege to, unto, about, against, beforec1449
oppugn?a1475
pursue1488
obsess1503
ferma1522
gird1548
begird1589
beleaguer1590
block1591
invest1591
intermure1606
blockade1684
to lay blockade to1713
leaguer1720
to form the siege1776
cerne1857
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Josh. x. 35 Iosue..wente from lachis vnto Eglon & enuyronede [L. circumdedit] & out fauȝte hit þe same day.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 235 (MED) Þis oost envyrounede þis citee on ech side.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 3617 To enverom alle þe vaward of all þe vile yndes.
1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 22 Iason was enuironned & assayled on all sydes.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 640 All enveronyt [1489 Adv. wmbeweround] vith fayis is he.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 748 The Capitaynes..planted a strong siege, and enuironed it [sc. the Castell] round about.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 92 They hauing long before so straitly enuironed the citie.
1645 J. Taylor Oxf. Besiedged 5 Our prosperous Parliamentonyans, inclosed, encompassed, environ'd, enwrapped, envelloped.
1754 J. Wolfe Let. 6 Jan. in Life & Lett. (1909) 231 You knew he was environed with a hungry, greedy set.
a1776 D. Hume Hist. Eng. (1778) VII. lix. 131 Colonel Pride..had environed the house with two regiments.
1813 P. B. Shelley Falsehood & Vice in Queen Mab 11 War's mad fiends the scene environ.
1877 M. F. Sweetser New Eng. Handbk. (rev. ed.) 30 The New York volunteers and Morgan's Virginia riflemen joined the camp. The 10,000 royal troops in Boston were environed by 20 miles of cantonments.
1909 R. Hitchcock Decisive Battles Amer. ix. 148 To..disperse the allies who environed Gloucester.
1997 S. Clark Thinking with Demons iv. xxxv. 542 If the orthodox state church was degenerate, then its claim to be environed with demonic enemies lost its force.
b. transitive. To be in attendance upon (a person); to be stationed round (a person or thing) as guards. Also: to surround †of, with, or by. Now chiefly in passive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > surround or lie around [verb (transitive)] > as people
bitrumc1000
environc1384
compass1388
encompass1555
ringa1592
enclose1611
gird1671
envelop1683
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Zech. ix. 8 Any Y shal enuyrounne [L. circumdabo] myn hous of these that holden knyȝthode to me.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 4809 (MED) Ther founden thei..Lucrece..al environed With wommen.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Eneydos lix. 158 We enuyronne hym rounde aboute wyth goode men of armes.
1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour iv. sig. P.iii.v The Angellis of the Ordoris Nyne Inueron sall, that throne Diuyne With heuinlye consolatioun.
1598 B. Yong tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 94 Enuironed rounde about with a troupe of Nymphes.
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 293 Environed he was with a multitude thronged together of vendible or sale souldiors.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon ii. viii. 350 He dy'd environ'd by three of his Children, several Divines, and all his Domestick Servants.
1761 Monthly Rev. Aug. 90 Then the prince, environed by his officers, advances with the standards and marks of principality.
1785 S. Lee Recess II. iii. 88 I heard the feet of men... I was environed by my deliverers, and one spark of pleasure ran through my cold frame.
a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) vii. 240 Upon a Board..had this Child been plac'd, And there he sate, environ'd with a Ring Of chance Spectators.
1854 H. H. Milman Hist. Lat. Christianity I. iii. vii. 469 Every Christian was environed with a world of invisible beings.
1927 F. G. Peabody Reminisc. Present Day Saints Pref. p. vi I have been environed by these characters, whose piety was steadied by wisdom and whose gifts were dedicated to service.
1970 W. La Barre Ghost Dance iii. 114 For the new human animal ‘the first world’ is the people who environ him.
a. transitive. To inhabit or occupy (a country, settlement, etc.) by moving through or into it. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (transitive)] > travel about
environc1384
to turn about ——c1440
perambulate1607
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Tim. v. 13 Thei ydel lernen for to enuyrowne [L. circuire] housis.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 7017 We enviroune bothe londe and fe [read se].
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 1 (MED) It lykede him..to envyrone þat holy lond with his blessede feet.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 28 (MED) This ryuere..envyrouneth all Ethiope.
b. transitive. To circumnavigate, make a circuit round. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement in circle or curve > cause to move in circle or curve [verb (transitive)] > move in circle round something
umgoa1300
compassc1384
gyrec1420
environ?a1425
circuitc1550
revolve1559
circle1582
to put (also make, cast) a girdle (round) about1600
encirclea1616
encompass1640
whirla1657
circulate1685
gird1688
circumgyrate1868
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 121 Men may envirowne all the erthe of all þe world as wel vnder as abouen & turnen aȝen to his contre.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 34/2 By envyronyng or goyng aboute the aultre.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 273 I meane to..begin at the North-east corner, and..(returning by the Thamise shore to the same point) to enuiron the whole Bishoprick.
1647 W. Lilly Christian Astrol. cxliiii. 617 The Luminaries [being] in angles not environed of the Planets.
4. transitive. To encompass, envelop, enclose on all sides; (also) to screen or conceal from (now chiefly of the atmosphere, light, etc.). Formerly also: †to wrap up, clothe (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surrounding > surround or lie around [verb (transitive)]
befong971
beclipc1000
begoc1000
belieOE
bestandc1000
to go about ——OE
umbegangc1200
behema1250
befallc1275
berunc1275
girdc1290
bihalvena1300
umlapa1300
umlaya1300
umlouka1300
umbegoc1300
belayc1320
halsea1340
enclose1340
umbelapa1350
embracec1360
betrendc1374
circlec1374
umbecasta1375
to give about1382
environa1393
umbeclipa1395
compassa1400
encircle?a1400
enourle?a1400
umbegivea1400
umbeseta1400
umbeliec1400
umbetighc1400
enroundc1420
measurec1425
umbsteadc1450
adviron?1473
purprise1481
umbeviron1489
belta1500
girtha1500
overgirda1500
engirt15..
envirea1513
round?a1513
brace1513
umbereach1513
becompass1520
circuea1533
girtc1540
umbsetc1540
circule1553
encompass1555
circulate?a1560
ingyre1568
to do about1571
engird1573
circumdate1578
succinge1578
employ1579
circuate1581
girdle1582
wheel1582
circumgyre1583
enring1589
ringa1592
embail1593
enfold1596
invier1596
stem1596
circumcingle1599
ingert1599
engirdle1602
circulize1603
circumscribe1605
begirt1608
to go round1610
enwheela1616
surround1616
shingle1621
encirculize1624
circumviron1632
beround1643
orba1644
circumference1646
becircle1648
incircuitc1650
circumcinge1657
circumtend1684
besiege1686
cincture1789
zone1795
cravat1814
encincture1820
circumvent1824
begirdle1837
perambulate1863
cordon1891
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > wrapping > wrap [verb (transitive)] > enfold or envelop > in a surrounding medium
belapc1175
take?a1300
wrapa1382
environa1393
enumberc1400
involvea1420
enfoldc1425
bewrapa1430
mantlec1450
envelop1474
enwrap1545
imply1590
circumvolve1607
circumfuse1608
becloaka1618
swathe1624
gird1645
wrap1656
velope1722
steep1798
bathe1816
cloak1818
impall1852
atmosphere1881
kirtle1888
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 240 Above therthe kepth his bounde The water..and al withoute It environeth th'erthe aboute.
1474 W. Caxton tr. Game & Playe of Chesse (1883) iii. i. 80 Alle thoo thynges that the Ayer goth aboute and enuyronned.
1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage of Soul (Caxton) (1859) i. iii. 4 The Centre [of the earth] was wonder derck in it self, and was aboute enuyronned by ordre of lesse derke mater and lesse.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. 237/1 He sawe an auncient man..enuyronned in a whyte mantel.
1571 T. Digges in L. Digges's Geom. Pract.: Pantometria xxv. sig. H h j One comprehending sphere inuironeth all his angles.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster Famous Hist. Thomas Wyat sig. A4 Thus like a Nun..Liue I inuirond in a house of stone.
1659 J. Leak tr. I. de Caus New Inventions Water-works 3 The Pestle..well invironed with leather.
1699 J. Pomfret Reason 155 'Tis now environ'd from our eyes.
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom II. lxii. 239 In vain I stretch these eyes, environed with darkness undistinguishing and void.
1778 R. Tickell Project (ed. 2) 2 Mighty Jove, thy sovereign care, Environs us with Northern air!
1846 W. S. Landor Hellenics in Wks. II. 482 Gravely-gladsome light environed them.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. §11. 73 We were environed by an atmosphere of perfect purity.
1922 T. Hardy Late Lyrics & Earlier 191 Lonely her fate was, Environed from sight In the house where the gate was Past finding at night.
1969 M. McLuhan Let. 1 June (1987) 374 The vast bureaucracies, political and professional, that environed him.
1993 P. Ackroyd House of Dr. Dee (1994) v. 207 This damp mist which now rolls over the city..is the contagion of the earth, thick rolling clouds of churchyard matter which environ us.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > charge: device on shield > place charge on [verb (transitive)] > border
fimbriate1486
imbordure1486
enbord1586
environ1694
1694 J. Beaumont Present State of Universe 34 The Escutcheon is environed with the Collars of the Orders of S. Michael, and the Holy Ghost.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Environne, in the French Heraldry, is when a Lion, or other Figure, is Environ'd, or encompass'd round with other Thing.
1803 P. de la Motte Principal, Hist., & Allusive Arms 536 Garter, environs the arms of the Knights of that Order.
1850 E. B. O'Callaghan Documentary Hist. State N.-Y. III. viii. 397 The whole is environed by a wreath of laurel.
1860 L. Butters & J. MacLaren Fairbairn's Bk. Crests Families Great Brit. & Irel. (rev. ed.) I. 51/2 An arm, embowed, vested, couped at the shoulder, in hand a serpent, ppr., tail environing the arm.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† environadv.prep.
α. Middle English enuyroun, Middle English enveroun, Middle English environ, Middle English envroun, Middle English envyron, Middle English envyroun, Middle English envyrowne, Middle English–1500s enviroun, Middle English–1500s enviroune, 1500s enuyron, 1600s enuiron; also Scottish pre-1700 enveron, pre-1700 enveroun, pre-1700 enwyroune.
β. Middle English inviroun, Middle English invirown, Middle English invirowne, Middle English invyroun, Middle English invyrown, 1500s invirone, 1500s inuyron, 1500s–1600s inviron; Scottish pre-1700 inveroum (transmission error), pre-1700 inveroun, pre-1700 inviron, pre-1700 invirone, pre-1700 inviroun, pre-1700 in virroune, pre-1700 invyroun, pre-1700 invyroune, pre-1700 inwirone.
Obsolete.
A. adv.
Round about; in the vicinity; (also) nearly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > nearness > [adverb] > in the vicinity
environa1393
nearabout?a1425
besideward1460
environeea1500
round about1526
round1593
around1762
inabout1813
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. l. 1474 (MED) This Emperour out of the toun Withinne a ten mile enviroun..Hath sondry places forto reste.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) II. 311 In viroun and wiþinne þei weren ful of iȝen.
a1450–1500 ( Libel Eng. Policy (1926) 1 (MED) Exhortynge alle Englande to kepe the see enviroun.
c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf. 16) (1879) Prol. l. 300 And with that word, a-compas enviroun They sitten hem ful softly a-doun.
c1480 (a1400) St. Matthew 463 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 203 He gert Inwirone al hyre In with mekil fuel.
?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. Aij Thaboundant grace of the power deuyne Which doth illumine the world environ.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1960) xiii. v. 4 And with large clamour fyllys inveroun Thar myndis all.
1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne ii. lxxx. 35 Lord Godfreyes eie three times enuiron goes.
B. prep.
Round; about.
ΚΠ
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. l. 2236 The Serpent..Went enviroun the schelle aboute.
a1450 (?c1421) J. Lydgate Siege Thebes (Arun.) (1911) l. 3482 (MED) Grekys..gan to ryde envyron þe contre.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin vii. 113 (MED) Somme seide that thei wolde ley siege environ the baile.
1532 Romaunt Rose in Wks. G. Chaucer f. cxlvii/1 He ladde me with right good chere Al enuyron the vergere.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.a1382
v.c1350
adv.prep.a1393