encroach — en·croach /in krōch/ vi [Anglo French encrocher, probably alteration of acrocher to catch hold of, seize, usurp, from Old French, from a , prefix stressing goal + croc hook]: to enter esp. gradually or stealthily into the possessions or rights of … Law dictionary
Encroach — En*croach , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Encroached}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Encroaching}.] [OF. encrochier to perch, prop., to hook, fasten a hook (perh. confused with acrochier, F. accrocher, to hook, get hold of, E. accroach); pref. en (L. in) + F. croc… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
encroach — en‧croach [ɪnˈkrəʊtʆ ǁ ˈkroʊtʆ] verb encroach on/upon something phrasal verb [transitive] to gradually take more control of someone s rights, property, responsibility etc than you should: • Bureaucratic power has encroached upon the freedom of… … Financial and business terms
encroach — ► VERB 1) (encroach on/upon) gradually intrude on (a person s territory, rights, etc.). 2) advance gradually beyond expected or acceptable limits: the sea has encroached all round the coast. DERIVATIVES encroachment noun. ORIGIN Old French… … English terms dictionary
Encroach — En*croach , n. Encroachment. [Obs.] South. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
encroach — early 14c., acquire, get, from O.Fr. encrochier seize, fasten on, hang on (to), cling (to); hang up, suspend, lit. to catch with a hook, from en in (see EN (Cf. en ) (1)) + croc hook, from O.N. krokr hook (see CROOK (Cf. crook)). Me … Etymology dictionary
encroach — *trespass, entrench, infringe, invade Analogous words: *enter, penetrate, pierce, probe: intrude, butt in, obtrude, interlope: interfere, intervene, interpose … New Dictionary of Synonyms
encroach — [v] invade another’s property, business appropriate, arrogate, barge in*, butt in*, crash, elbow in*, entrench, horn in*, impinge, infringe, interfere, interpose, intervene, intrude, make inroads*, meddle, muscle in*, overstep, put two cents in* … New thesaurus
encroach — [en krōch′, inkrōch′] vi. [ME encrochen < OFr encrochier, to seize upon, take < en , in + croc, croche, a hook: see CROSIER] 1. to trespass or intrude (on or upon the rights, property, etc. of another), esp. in a gradual or sneaking way 2.… … English World dictionary
encroach — UK [ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ] / US [ɪnˈkroʊtʃ] verb [intransitive] Word forms encroach : present tense I/you/we/they encroach he/she/it encroaches present participle encroaching past tense encroached past participle encroached 1) to gradually take something… … English dictionary
encroach — v. (d; intr.) to encroach on, upon (to encroach on smb. s territory) * * * [ɪn krəʊtʃ] upon (to encroach on smb. s territory) (d; intr.) to encroach on … Combinatory dictionary
