enclose

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled inclose

US /ənˈkloʊz/ UK /ɪnˈkləʊz/ See IPA manual

Freq #40842

Meanings

1

verb
To surround something with a wall, fence, or barrier

They enclosed the garden with a tall wooden fence.
2

verb
To put something inside an envelope or package, especially with a letter

Please enclose a stamped envelope if you want a reply.
3

verb
To surround something completely

Thick fog enclosed the whole valley.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to surround something with... fence inclose in

3 verb · to surround something... surround wrap

Word family

Forms enclosedenclosesenclosinginclosedinclosingunencloseduninclosed

Derived forms disenclose

Related forms encircleenclosableencloser

Etymology

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.

*(s)kleh₂w- Proto-Indo-European enclosen Middle English enclos Middle English enclose Old French *inclaudo la-vul inclūdō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# enclose

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ənˈkloʊz/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈkləʊz/
**Frequency rank:** 40842

## Meanings
1. To surround something with a wall, fence, or barrier
2. To put something inside an envelope or package, especially with a letter
3. To surround something completely

## Examples
- They enclosed the garden with a tall wooden fence.
- Please enclose a stamped envelope if you want a reply.
- Thick fog enclosed the whole valley.

## Derived Forms
- disenclose

## Related Forms
- encircle
- enclosable
- encloser

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *(s)kleh₂w-
- Root: enclosen
- Root: enclos
- Root: enclose
- Root: *inclaudo
- Root: inclūdō
- Affix: en- - in, into

## Etymology
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.

## AI Etymology
Enclose comes 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.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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