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
   • 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 19:

     His spirits, during the last two or three days, though still very unequal, were greatly improved—he grew more and more partial to the house and environs—never spoke of going away without a sigh [...]

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

Further reading

• 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

Further reading

• “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