enfold

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɛnˈfoʊld/ UK /ɪnˈfəʊld/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to wrap up or surround, especially in an embrace

She enfolded the shivering child in a warm blanket.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to wrap up or surround,... wrap envelop embrace encircle enclose swathe

Opposites

unfold release unwrap

Word family

Derived forms enfoldmentenfolded

Related forms fold unfold

Etymology

From en- ('in') + fold (from Old English fealdan 'to fold, wrap up'), formed in Middle English to mean 'wrap in folds, surround'.

fealdan Old English *falþaną Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# enfold

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɛnˈfoʊld/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈfəʊld/

## Meanings
1. to wrap up or surround, especially in an embrace

## Examples
- She enfolded the shivering child in a warm blanket.

## Synonyms
- wrap
- envelop
- embrace
- encircle
- enclose
- swathe

## Antonyms
- unfold
- release
- unwrap

## Derived Forms
- enfoldment
- enfolded

## Related Forms
- fold
- unfold

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: fealdan
- Root: *falþaną

## Etymology
From en- ('in') + fold (from Old English fealdan 'to fold, wrap up'), formed in Middle English to mean 'wrap in folds, surround'.

## AI Etymology
Enfold comes from en- ('in') + fold (from Old English fealdan 'to fold, wrap up'), formed in Middle English to mean 'wrap in folds, surround'. The etymological trail includes Old English fealdan and Proto-Germanic *falþaną. As a verb, enfold means to wrap up or surround, especially in an embrace. The same family is visible in derived forms such as enfoldment and enfolded and related forms such as fold and unfold. The analysis is partly morphological, with the modern form built from the elements named in the history.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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