envelopment
|en-vel-op-ment|
/ɪnˈvɛləpmənt/
to wrap or surround
Etymology
'envelopment' originates from Old French 'enveloper' (Middle French 'enveloper'), where the prefix 'en-' meant 'in' and the root related to 'veloper/voloper' meant 'to wrap' or 'to cover'.
'enveloper' passed into Middle English as 'envelopen' and later became the verb 'envelop'; the noun 'envelopment' was formed by adding the suffix '-ment' to create the modern English noun.
Initially it meant 'to wrap or cover', and over time the sense broadened to 'surround' in general contexts and acquired specialized uses such as describing a military maneuver.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action or process of enveloping; the act of completely covering, wrapping, or surrounding something.
The envelopment of the valley by dense fog made driving dangerous.
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Noun 2
a military maneuver in which forces move around an enemy to attack from the side or rear; a tactic of surrounding to cut off retreat or supply.
The commander planned an envelopment to cut off the enemy's line of retreat.
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Last updated: 2025/12/31 04:41