engross

To engross is defined as to take all of someone's attention.

(verb)

When a book is fascinating and takes all your attention, this is an example of when you engross yourself in the book.

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See engross in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

    1. to write out in large letters of a kind once used for legal documents
    2. to make a final fair copy of (esp. a legislative bill)
  1. to express formally or in legal form
  2. to take the entire attention of; occupy wholly; absorb: engrossed in a book
  3. Archaic
    1. to buy all of so as to monopolize
    2. to take or require all of

Origin: ME engrossen < OFr engrosser, to acquire in large quantity (< en-, in + gros, large < L grossus) & engroissier, to become thick < en- + groisse, thickness < VL *grossia < L grossus: see gross

Related Forms:

See engross in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb en·grossed, en·gross·ing, en·gross·es
  1. To occupy exclusively; absorb: A great novel engrosses the reader. See Synonyms at monopolize.
  2. To acquire most or all of (a commodity); monopolize (a market).
  3. a. To write or transcribe in a large, clear hand.
    b. To write or print the final draft of (an official document).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English engrossen, to collect in large quantity, monopolize

Origin: , from Old French engrossier

Origin: , from en gros, in large quantity

Origin: : en, in (from Latin in; see in-2)

Origin: + gros, large; see gross 

Origin: . Sense 3, from Middle English engrossen, to make a finished copy of a legal document

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman engrosser

Origin: , from Medieval Latin ingrossāre

Origin: : Latin in-, in; see en-1

Origin: + grossa, a copy in a large hand (from Late Latin grossus, thick)

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Related Forms:

  • en·grossˈer noun
  • en·grossˈment noun

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