environ

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French enviruner, environner (“to surround”), from environ (“around”), from en (“in”) + viron (“a turn”), from virer (“to turn, veer”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -aɪɹən

Verb

environ (third-person singular simple present environs, present participle environing, simple past and past participle environed)

1. To surround; to encircle.
   • 1673, John Milton, “I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs”:

     I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs

     By the known rules of antient libertie,

     When strait a barbarous noise environs me

     Of Owles and Cuckoes, Asses, Apes and Doggs.

Related terms

• environment

External links

• environ in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• environ in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• environ at OneLook Dictionary Search

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French

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

• IPA: /ɑ̃.vi.ʁɔ̃/, X-SAMPA: /A~.vi.RO~/

Adverb

environ

1. about, close to, around

   un salaire annuel d'environ 7 millions d'euros

   an annual salary of around 7 million euros

Anagrams

• innover