v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Encompassed p. pr. & vb. n. Encompassing. ] To circumscribe or go round so as to surround closely; to encircle; to inclose; to environ; as, a ring encompasses the finger; an army encompasses a city; a voyage encompassing the world. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A question may be encompassed with difficulty. C. J. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

The love of all thy sons encompass thee. Tennyson.

Syn. -- To encircle; inclose; surround; include; environ; invest; hem in; shut up. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. closely enveloping or surrounding on all sides.
Syn. -- ambient, enveloping, surrounding(prenominal). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act of surrounding, or the state of being surrounded; circumvention. [ 1913 Webster ]

By this encompassment and drift of question. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]