Encroach

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: en=croach

CIDE DICTIONARY

Encroach, v. i. [OF. encrochier to perch, prop., to hook, fasten a hook (perh. confused with acrochier, F. accrocher, to hook, get hold of, E. accroach); pref. en- (L. in) + F. croc hook. See Crook, and cf. Accroach.].

 To enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or rights of another; to trespass; to intrude; to trench; -- commonly with on or upon; as, to encroach on a neighbor; to encroach on the highway.  [1913 Webster]
"No sense, faculty, or member must encroach upon or interfere with the duty and office of another."  [1913 Webster]
"Superstition, . . . a creeping and encroaching evil."  [1913 Webster]
"Exclude the encroaching cattle from thy ground."

Syn. -- To intrude; trench; infringe; invade; trespass.

Encroach, n. 

 Encroachment.  South.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Encroach, v.intr.
1 (foll. by on, upon) intrude, esp. on another's territory or rights.
2 advance gradually beyond due limits.

Derivative

encroacher n. encroachment n.

Etymology

ME f. OF encrochier (as EN-(1), crochier f. croc hook: see CROOK)

THESAURUS

Encroach

abuse a privilege, adopt, advance upon, appropriate, arrogate, assume, barge in, bother, break bounds, break in, break in upon, burst in, bust in, butt in, charge in, come between, crash, crash in, crash the gates, creep in, crowd in, cut in, edge in, elbow in, encroach upon, entrench, foist in, go too far, horn, horn in, impinge, impose, impose on, impose upon, inconvenience, infiltrate, infringe, insinuate, interfere, interlope, interpose, intervene, intrude, invade, irrupt, know no bounds, make an inroad, make free with, obtrude, obtrude upon, overstep, overstep the bounds, play God, press in, presume on, presume upon, pretend to, push in, put on, put upon, rush in, seize, slink in, slip in, smash in, sneak in, squeeze in, steal in, storm in, take a liberty, take liberties, take over, throng in, thrust in, transgress, trench, trespass, trouble, usurp, work in, worm in

ROGET THESAURUS

Encroach

Undueness

VB be undue, not be due, infringe, encroach, trench on, exact, arrogate, arrogate to oneself, give an inch and take an ell, stretch a point, strain a point, usurp, violate, do violence to, disfranchise, disentitle, disqualify, invalidate, relax, misbehave, misbecome.

Transcursion

VB transgress, surpass, pass, go beyond, go by, show in front, come to the front, shoot ahead of, steal a march upon, steal a gain upon, overstep, overpass, overreach, overgo, override, overleap, overjump, overskip, overlap, overshoot the mark, outstrip, outleap, outjump, outgo, outstep, outrun, outride, outrival, outdo, beat, beat hollow, distance, leave in the lurch, leave in the rear, throw into the shade, exceed, transcend, surmount, soar, encroach, trespass, infringe, trench upon, entrench on, intrench on, strain, stretch a point, strain a point, cross the Rubicon.