engross

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: en=gross

CIDE DICTIONARY

engross, v. t. [F., fr. pref. en- (L. in) + gros gross, grosse, n., an engrossed document: cf. OF. engrossir, engroissier, to make thick, large, or gross. See Gross.].

•  To make gross, thick, or large; to thicken; to increase in bulk or quantity.  [1913 Webster]

  "Waves . . . engrossed with mud."  [1913 Webster]

  "Not sleeping, to engross his idle body."  [1913 Webster]
•  To amass.  [1913 Webster]

  "To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf."  [1913 Webster]
•  To copy or write in a large hand (en gross, i. e., in large); to write a fair copy of in distinct and legible characters; as, to engross a deed or like instrument on parchment.  [1913 Webster]

  "Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal chirography on more substantial materials."  [1913 Webster]

  "Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail."  [1913 Webster]
•  To seize in the gross; to take the whole of; to occupy the attention completely; to absorb; as, the subject engrossed all his thoughts.  [1913 Webster]
•  To purchase either the whole or large quantities of, for the purpose of enhancing the price and making a profit; hence, to take or assume in undue quantity, proportion, or degree; as, to engross commodities in market; to engross power.  [1913 Webster]

Engrossed bill (Legislation), one which has been plainly engrossed on parchment, with all its amendments, preparatory to final action on its passage. -- Engrossing hand (Penmanship), a fair, round style of writing suitable for engrossing legal documents, legislative bills, etc.

Syn. -- To absorb; swallow up; imbibe; consume; exhaust; occupy; forestall; monopolize. See Absorb.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

engross, v.tr.
1 absorb the attention of; occupy fully (engrossed in studying).
2 make a fair copy of a legal document.
3 reproduce (a document etc.) in larger letters or larger format.
4 archaic monopolize (a conversation etc.).

Derivative

engrossing adj. (in sense 1). engrossment n.

Etymology

ME f. AF engrosser: senses 2 and 3 f. en in + grosse large writing: senses 1 and 4 f. en gros wholesale

THESAURUS

engross

absorb, absorb the attention, adsorb, apply, arrest, assimilate, attract, become overweight, blot, blot up, busy, buy, buy back, buy in, buy into, buy off, buy on credit, buy up, captivate, catch, charm, chemisorb, chemosorb, come uppermost, complete a purchase, consume, copy, copy out, corner, digest, draft, draw up, drink, drink in, drink up, edit, enchant, enface, engage, engage the attention, engage the mind, engage the thoughts, engross the mind, engross the thoughts, enscroll, enthrall, exercise, fascinate, fat, fatten, fill, fill the mind, filter in, forestall, gain weight, gather flesh, grab, grip, hog, hold, hold spellbound, hold the interest, hypnotize, imbibe, immerse, indite, infiltrate, inscribe, involve, involve the interest, make a buy, make a recension, make out, mesmerize, monopolize, monopolize the thoughts, obsess, obsess the mind, occupy, occupy the attention, occupy the mind, osmose, pen, pencil, percolate in, pinguefy, plump, preoccupy, procure, purchase, push the pen, put in writing, put on weight, rebuy, recense, record, regrate, repurchase, revise, rewrite, scribe, scrive, scroll, seep in, seize the mind, sew up, slurp up, soak, soak in, soak up, sorb, spellbind, spill ink, spoil paper, sponge, superscribe, swill up, take in, take it all, take up, tie up, trace, transcribe, type, write, write down, write out

ROGET THESAURUS

engross

Writing

VB write, pen, copy, engross, write out, write out fair, transcribe, scribble, scrawl, scrabble, scratch, interline, stain paper, write down, sign, enface, compose, indite, draw up, draft, formulate, dictate, inscribe, throw on paper, dash off, manifold, take up the pen, take pen in hand, shed ink, spill ink, dip one's pen in ink.

Possession

VB possess, have, hold, occupy, enjoy, be possessed of, have in hand, own, command, inherit, come to, come in for, engross, monopolize, forestall, regrate, impropriate, have all to oneself, corner, have a firmhold of, get into one's hand, belong to, appertain to, pertain to, be in one's possession, vest in.