An archaic or rare verb meaning to surround or encircle something completely.
From Old French 'envirer,' derived from 'en-' (to make) and 'vire' (to turn or circle). The root relates to turning or circular motion, eventually meaning to circle around something.
This word is almost extinct in modern English, but it reveals how 'environ' words all share a core idea of surrounding—from envision (surrounding with mental imagery) to environment (what surrounds us). Medieval writers loved it!
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