wrap

Definition

To enclose (an object) completely in any flexible, thin material such as fabric or paper.

Etymology

From Middle English wrappen (“to wrap, fold”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to North Frisian wrappe (“to press into; stop up”), dialectal Danish vrappe (“to stuff, cram”), Middle Low German rincworpen (“to envelop, wrap”), Middle Low German wrempen (“to wrinkle, scrunch the face”), all perhaps tied to Proto-Indo-European *werp-, *werb- (“to turn, twist, bend”). Compare also similar-sounding and similar-meaning Middle English wlappen (“to wrap, lap, envelop, fold”), Middle Dutch lappen (“to wrap up”), Old Italian goluppare (“to wrap”) (from Germanic). Doublet of lap; related to envelop, develop. Also compare Latin verber (“whip, lash”).

Example Sentences

• "Christmas gifts are commonly known to be wrapped in paper."
• "I then dried these over a flame, and then, wrapping the formes and re-sealing them with my court seals — for my only commission, you see, was to report as to whether the type was unpied, and text ungarbled, and the formes all ready […]"
• "A snake wraps itself around its prey."