environ
English
Etymology
From Middle English [Term?], from Old French enviruner, environner (“to surround”), from environ (“around”), from en (“in”) + viron (“a turn”), from virer (“to turn, veer”).
Pronunciation
Noun
environ (plural environs)
- (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)
- 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 (Can we date this quote by Spenser and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Dwelling in a pleasant glade, / With mountains round about environed.
- Shakespeare (Can we date this quote by Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Environed he was with many foes.
- John Donne (Can we date this quote by John Donne and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- Environ me with darkness whilst I write.
- 1673, John Milton, “I did but prompt the age to quit their cloggs”:
Related terms
Further reading
- “environ”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “environ”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “environ”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
French
Pronunciation
Adverb
environ
- about, close to, around
- un salaire annuel d’environ 7 millions d’euros
- an annual salary of around 7 million euros
Noun
environ m (plural environs)
- (especially in plural) a surrounding area
Related terms
Further reading
- “environ”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
Middle French
Adverb
environ
- about; around; roughly
- around
- 1488, Jean Dupré, Lancelot du Lac, page 23:
- il regarda environ soy
- he look around him
Occitan
Adverb
environ
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