Middle English Dictionary Entry
envīrǒunen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | envīrǒunen v. Also enverounen. |
| Etymology | From envīrǒun ; OF environner. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To surround in a circle or ring, or on the perimeter, or in an encircling barrier or area; also, to run all the way through (a country).
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 19.43 : Thin enemyes schulen enuyroune thee with pale.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)28/14 : This ryuere..envyrouneth all Ethiope.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3242 : The vale was enuerownde with vynes of siluer.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)118/13 : The heuenly croune schal enueyron..the hedes of men obeyinge.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)15 : The diche that environd the gardyne of the chambure.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)545 : The town was envyroned aboute with the wode and the river.
- 1598(a1475) Flower & L.(Speght)321 : After that..Bigonne they to sing and daunce..Environing the tree that stood upright.
2.
To surround in attendance or for protection.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Zech.9.8 : And Y shal enuyrounne myn hous of these that holden knyȝthode to me.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4809 : Ther founden thei..Lucrece..al environed With wommen.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.5.41 : A myghti man, that hath envyrowned his sydes with men of armes?
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)77 : She was in the welle all nakyde, envyrouned wyth fayreis and godes the whiche seruyd hyre.
3.
To surround with hostile intention; to beset or besiege.
Associated quotations
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.235 : Þis oost envyrounede þis citee on ech side.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.917 : He was..Beset with Grekys hym envirownynge.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)10 : Many a fo..nyȝt and day envyroun me.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4124 : Ethyns of Argayle and Irische kynges Enverounes oure avawmwarde with venymmos berynns.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3617 : To enverom alle þe vaward of all þe vile yndes.
4.
To surround on all sides; to envelop or enclose; also, to cover over.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.240 : The water..al withoute..environeth therthe aboute.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)112/19 : Pia mater enuyrounneþ al þe brayn.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Exod.37.11 : And he enuyrounde it with moost clene gold.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7608 : Þe constellacyouns And þe heven þat þe erth envirouns.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.2.5 : Thise proude kynges..gliterynge in schynynge purpre, envyrowned with sorwful armures.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)54/11 : Þe walles [ware] all enueround wit fyne golde & precyous stanes.
5.
To give surroundings or a setting of a certain sort to (something).
Associated quotations
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)4 : The maner and shap of the kenel and how it shuld be environd and araied.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.2.23 : I envyrounde the with al the habundaunce and schynynge of alle goodes that ben in my ryght.
6.
Of circumstances, conditions: to surround or beset (a person).
Associated quotations
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)87.18 : [God's wrath and dreadfulness] compassed me ich dai, as þe water goþ aboute þerþe; hij enuironed me togidres.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.5.2 : He is enuyrowned with infirmyte.
- c1475(1459) Pros.Yorkists in EHR 26 (Roy 17.D.15)514 : Infortune wolle you comprehende and envyroune withoute hope of delyverance.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)358/34 : The sorowes of helle haue envyrouned me.
7.
To move in a circle or circuit; to move around the perimeter of.
Associated quotations
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)526 : Tho gan I go a full gret pas Envyronyng evene in compas The closing of the square wall.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)108/19 : The mone envirouneth the erthe more hastyly þan ony oþer planete.
8.
To move or go aboute in (a place); to wander throughout the extent of (an area).
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.4.23 : Jhesus enuyraunyde [WB(2): ȝede aboute] al Galilee.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.5.13 : Thei ydel lernen for to enuyrowne housis.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)1/8 : It lykede him..to envyrone þat holy lond with his blessede feet.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2094 : This gentill..all enverounde the vale.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)35.145 : Into the Se wolde they gon, The See to Envirowne be day & be Nyht.
9.
To fill or pervade (a space).
Associated quotations
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4780 : With þat enverrouns all þe vale a voice fra þe heuen.
- a1509(?1468) Marriage in Archaeol.31 (Add 46354)329 : All the abundaunce of knyghtes, esquyres, and jentillwomen environinge the chambar.
10.
Of the mind: to pervade or comprehend.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.9.45 : Graunte hym [i.e. to thought] to enviroune [OF auirouner, L lustrare] the welle of good; and..graunte hym to fycchen the clere syghtes of his corage in the.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.4.233 : Ymaginacioun..envyrowneth and comprehendith alle thingis sensible.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1438) GLeg.Andrew (GiL1) (Eg 876) 9/220 : A gret lyght come from heuene and environde hym.
Note: Additional quote. Postdates sense 4. 'envelop.'