Engrossing

Engrossing
Engross En*gross", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Engrossed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Engrossing}.] [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}.] 1. To make gross, thick, or large; to thicken; to increase in bulk or quantity. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Waves . . . engrossed with mud. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Not sleeping, to engross his idle body. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. To amass. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. 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. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]

Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]

4. 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]

5. 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}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Engrossing — Engrossing, forestalling and regrating were marketing offences in English common law. The terms were used to describe unacceptable methods of influencing the market, sometimes by creating a local monopoly for a certain good, usually food. The… …   Wikipedia

  • engrossing — adj. capable of holding the attention completely; very interesting. Syn: absorbing, fascinating, gripping, riveting. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • engrossing — interesting, absorbing, intriguing Analogous words: monopolizing, consuming (see MONOPOLIZE): controlling, managing, directing (see CONDUCT vb): transporting, ravishing, enrapturing, entrancing (see TRANSPORT) Antonyms: irksome …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • engrossing — [adj] very interesting absorbing, all consuming, captivating, compelling, consuming, controlling, enthralling, exciting, fascinating, gripping, intriguing, monopolizing, obsessing, preoccupying, provoking, riveting, stimulating; concept 529 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • engrossing — [en grōs′iŋ, in grōs′iŋ] adj. taking one s entire attention; very interesting; absorbing …   English World dictionary

  • engrossing — [[t]ɪngro͟ʊsɪŋ[/t]] ADJ GRADED (approval) Something that is engrossing is very interesting and holds your attention completely. He is an engrossing subject for a book …   English dictionary

  • engrossing — engrossingly, adv. /en groh sing/, adj. fully occupying the mind or attention; absorbing: I m reading the most engrossing book. [1475 85; ENGROSS + ING2] * * * …   Universalium

  • engrossing — adj. Engrossing is used with these nouns: ↑read …   Collocations dictionary

  • engrossing — en|gross|ing [ ın grousıŋ ] adjective extremely interesting: an engrossing story …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • engrossing — adjective so interesting that you do not notice anything else: an engrossing story …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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