transitive verb
also en·vel·ope ə̇nˈveləp, en-
( enveloped ; enveloped ; enveloping ; envelops also envelopes )
Etymology: Middle English envolupen, from Middle French envoluper, envoleper, enveloper, from Old French, from en- en- (I) + voluper, voleper, veloper to wrap up
1.
a. : to enclose completely with a garment or other covering : wrap up
a shroud enveloped her form — Mary W. Shelley
drew off his coat and enveloped him in a white robe — Laura Krey
other folks envelop the meat in the leaves — E.J.Banfield
b. : to enclose or surround with a nonsolid material or medium (as air or darkness) : obscure or conceal by covering or shrouding
distant hills enveloped in a blue haze
large black clouds enveloped the moon
flames enveloped the building
a snug … warmth enveloped him — O.E.Rölvaag
c. : to surround or enfold with something immaterial (as a mood or atmosphere) : possess , dominate
the Presbyterian culture that enveloped me when I was a boy — St. Clair McKelway
the drowsy silence that enveloped the yacht — Scott Fitzgerald
she had been enveloped in profound peace — Ellen Glasgow
then she would … envelop me in the great, soft, spicy tide of her affection — R.P.Warren
a feeling of gloom and self-pity enveloped him
he was enveloped by that strange sense of detachment — Walter O'Meara
2. “ or ˈenvəˌlōp or ˈänveˌlōp : to put in an envelope
she scrawled across the bottom of the letter the word NO and enveloped it for return mailing — E.P.O'Donnell
3. : to attack or move to attack (one or both of an enemy's flanks)
there were indications that they intended to envelop the northern wing of Army Group South — W.R.Desobry
Synonyms: see enclose