transitive verb
or in·close ə̇nˈklōz, en-
Etymology: Middle English enclosen, inclosen, probably from enclos, inclos, adjective, enclosed, from Middle French enclos, past participle of enclore to enclose, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin inclaudere, alteration (influenced by Latin claudere to close) of Latin includere to enclose, include — more at include , close
1.
a. : to close in
enclose a porch with glass
: surround
enclose a yard with a fence
specifically : to fence off or in (common land) in order to appropriate to individual use
b. : envelop , enfold
mountains enclosed the town
enclosed in a circle of candlelight — Stuart Cloete
c. : to hem in : confine
a convict enclosed within walls for life
: subject (a religious or a building or an area) to the rules of enclosure
an enclosed order of nuns
enclose the chapel
d. : to complete the shell of (a building under construction) so as to make weatherproof and secure from intrusion
2. : to place (as a document, note, or bill) in a parcel or envelope
a check enclosed with a letter
3. : to seize or grasp securely : hold
his fingers enclosed the money
Synonyms:
envelop , fence , pen , coop , corral , cage , wall : enclose is a general word without rich or specific connotation or definite limitation
their prey enclosed within a ring — William Wordsworth
the study of the history of ideas and their enclosing words — C.A.Beard
envelop implies complete enclosure on all sides, especially one opaque or translucent but yielding and penetrable
the sweet, often incense-laden atmosphere … enveloped her like a warm and healing garment — Rose Macaulay
the great chilly unused drawing room whose spacious ceremoniousness seemed to embrace and envelop her — J.C.Powys
The remaining words in this set are closely connected with cognate nouns and may show regional variations. In general, fence is to close off as if with a fence; it suggests an area barred to entrance or exit and somewhat protected. It is wide and often figurative in use
a Kirghiz tent, with all its muffled walls … would not suffice to fence out that insistent sunlight — Sacheverell Sitwell
fencing off a corner of the sea with dikes — New York Times
pen is to enclose in a pen especially to prevent straying. It expresses irksome restriction, but ideas of confinement are stronger in the following words
pigs and geese are penned up for the night
practically the whole of the population is penned in on a narrow coastal strip — W.A.Lewis
coop reinforces notions of prevention of straying, stresses structure rather than area, and more strongly implies narrow and cramped limitation inhibiting activity
poultry cooped up
they feel themselves in a state of thralldom, they imagine that their souls are cooped and cabined in — Edmund Burke
sent their whole army over here onto this island and cooped it up so it couldn't get away — Kenneth Roberts
corral suggests prevention of straying or escape by enclosing in larger, less cramping, but stronger and more secure quarters
to corral rodeo broncos
It usually connotes difficulty in driving or controlling whatever is corralled and is often figurative
the vitamins are being corralled one by one and the proteins are being brought under control — C.C.Furnas
to corral as many different and mutually hostile groups of voters as he can — New Republic
cage connotes prevention of escape by confinement in a strong small structure; it suggests more inexorable confinement
caged eagles
as sullen as a beast new- caged — Alfred Tennyson
the feeling of caged muscular tightness has provoked a fairly widespread desire to emigrate from Britain — J.R.Chamberlain
wall suggests strong impenetrable construction barring entrance or exit and guaranteeing confinement or security
when towns were so small that they were walled in as gardens are now — G.B.Shaw
an artificial universe … walled off from the world of nature — Aldous Huxley