encompass

Definition

To form a circle around; to encircle.

Etymology

From Middle English encompassen. By surface analysis, en- + compass.

Example Sentences

• "his piercing inſtruments of ſight: Whose fiery circles beare encompaſſed A heauen of heauenly bodies in their Spheares:"
• "Those trajectories encompassed absolute social extremes: the kings of France making their solemn entries into Paris through the Ludovician Arch of the Porte [...]"
• "In order to address the systematic, processual character of interpersonal interactions — the larger mosaic of micro-level patterns — we must postulate subapparent but encompassing structures of social activity."