enclose

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English

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Alternative forms

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  • inclose (was as common as or more common than enclose until the early 1800s, is now uncommon)

Etymology

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From Middle English enclosen, inclosen, from Middle English enclos, from Old French enclose, feminine plural past participle of enclore, from Vulgar Latin *inclaudō, *inclaudere, from Latin inclūdō (doublet of include), from in- (in) + claudō (to shut), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂u- (key, hook, nail). Equivalent to en- +‎ close.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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enclose (third-person singular simple present encloses, present participle enclosing, simple past and past participle enclosed)

  1. (transitive) To surround with a wall, fence, etc.
    to enclose lands
    • 2024 May 4, John Naughton, “The internet is in decline – it needs rewilding”, in The Guardian[1]:
      The creative commons of the internet has been gradually and inexorably enclosed, much as agricultural land was by parliamentary acts from 1600 onwards in England.
  2. (transitive) To insert into a container, usually an envelope or package.
    Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope if you require a reply.

Usage notes

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Synonyms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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References

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Anagrams

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