engross

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Engrossed p. pr. & vb. n. Engrossing. ] [ F., fr. pref. en- (L. in) + gros gross, grosse, n., an engrossed document: cf. OF. engrossir, engroissier, to make thick, large, or gross. See Gross. ] 1. To make gross, thick, or large; to thicken; to increase in bulk or quantity. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Waves . . . engrossed with mud. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not sleeping, to engross his idle body. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To amass. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To copy or write in a large hand (en gross, i. e., in large); to write a fair copy of in distinct and legible characters; as, to engross a deed or like instrument on parchment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal chirography on more substantial materials. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To seize in the gross; to take the whole of; to occupy the attention completely; to absorb; as, the subject engrossed all his thoughts. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To purchase either the whole or large quantities of, for the purpose of enhancing the price and making a profit; hence, to take or assume in undue quantity, proportion, or degree; as, to engross commodities in market; to engross power. [ 1913 Webster ]

Engrossed bill (Legislation), one which has been plainly engrossed on parchment, with all its amendments, preparatory to final action on its passage. --
Engrossing hand (Penmanship), a fair, round style of writing suitable for engrossing legal documents, legislative bills, etc.

Syn. -- To absorb; swallow up; imbibe; consume; exhaust; occupy; forestall; monopolize. See Absorb. [ 1913 Webster ]