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

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈvaɪ.ɹən/, /ɛnˈvaɪ.ɹən/
• Rhymes: -aɪɹən

Noun

environ ‎(plural environs)

1. (especially in plural) A surrounding area

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.

   • Spenser

     Dwelling in a pleasant glade, / With mountains round about environed.

   • Shakespeare

     Environed he was with many foes.

   • John Donne

     Environ me with darkness whilst I write.

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^(key): /ɑ̃.vi.ʁɔ̃/

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

External links

• “environ” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

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Middle French

Adverb

environ

1. about; around; roughly
2. around
   • 1488, Jean Dupré, Lancelot du Lac, page 23:

     il regarda environ soy

     he look around him