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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Engross \En*gross"\, 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.]
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Waves . . . engrossed with mud. --Spenser.
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Not sleeping, to engross his idle body. --Shak.
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2. To amass. [Obs.]
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To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf. --Shak.
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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.
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Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their
stiff and formal chirography on more substantial
materials. --Hawthorne.
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Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail. --De
Quincey.
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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.
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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.
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{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}.
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engrossing \engrossing\ adj.
capable of holding the attention completely; very
interesting.

Syn: absorbing, fascinating, gripping, riveting.
[WordNet 1.5 PJC]