encroach

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   advance beyond the usual limit

   The sea began to encroach upon the fields.

2. 2
   verb

   impinge or infringe upon

   The sea began to encroach upon the fields.

3. 3
   verb

   to seize, appropriate

   The sea began to encroach upon the fields.

4. 4
   verb

   To intrude unrightfully on someone else’s rights or territory.

   [D]rowſie drouping Age, / incroaching on apace, / With penſiue Plough will raze your hue / and Beauties beames deface.

From Middle English encrochen, from Old French encrochier (“to seize”), from Old French en- + croc (“hook”), of Germanic origin. More at crook.

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