different between enclose vs befang

English

Alternative forms

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

Etymology

From Middle English enclosen, inclosen, from Middle English enclos, from Old French enclose, feminine plural past participle of enclore, from Vulgar Latin *inclaud?, *inclaudere, from Latin incl?d? (doublet of include). Equivalent to en- +? close.

Pronunciation

• (Canada) IPA^(key): /?n?klo?z/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n?kl??z/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?klo?z/
• Rhymes: -??z

Verb

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.

2. (transitive) to insert into a container, usually an envelope or package

Usage notes

• Until about 1820, it was common to spell this word, and the derived terms encloser and enclosure, with in- (i.e. as inclose, incloser, inclosure). Since 1820, the forms with en- have predominated.

Synonyms

• (to surround with a wall &c.): incastellate, encastellate (used for cisterns, fountains, &c.); see also fortify

Translations

See also

• encircle
• encloser
• enclosable

References

Anagrams

• coleens

English

Alternative forms

• befong

Etymology

From Middle English befon (past participle befangen), from Old English bef?n (“to surround, clasp, include, envelop, encase, clothe, comprehend, seize, attack (at law), lay hold of, catch, ensnare, contain, receive, conceive, explain”), equivalent to be- +? fang. Cognate with Dutch bevangen (“to seize”), Middle High German bev?hen (“to comprehend”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [b??fæ?]

Verb

befang (third-person singular simple present befangs, present participle befanging, simple past and past participle befanged)

1. (transitive, Britain dialectal, Yorkshire) To lay hold on; seize; grasp; catch; clutch.

   Come here an' I'll befang thee!

2. (intransitive, obsolete) To take hold on; begin or commence upon.
3. (transitive, obsolete) To encompass; enclose; contain; comprehend.

References

• Wright, Joseph (1898) The English Dialect Dictionary?^[1], volume 1, Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 225
• Philological Society (Great Britain), A new English dictionary on historical principles, Befong.