Adjacent Words

Encroach definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ENCROACH, v.i. [Eng. crook.] Primarily, to catch as with a hook. Hence,
1. To enter on the rights and possession of another; to intrude; to take possession of what belongs to another, by gradual advances into his limits or jurisdiction, and usurping a part of his rights or prerogatives; with on. The farmer who runs a fence on his neighbor's land, and incloses a piece with his own, encroaches on his neighbor's property. Men often encroach, in this manner, on the highway. The sea is said to encroach on the land, when it wears it away gradually; and the land encroaches on the sea, when it is extended into it by alluvion. It is important to prevent one branch of government from encroaching on the jurisdiction of another.
2. To creep on gradually without right.
Superstition--a creeping and encroaching evil.
3. To pass the proper bounds, and enter on another's rights.
Exclude th' encroaching cattle from thy ground.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: advance beyond the usual limit [syn: encroach, infringe, impinge]
2: impinge or infringe upon; "This impinges on my rights as an individual"; "This matter entrenches on other domains" [syn: impinge, encroach, entrench, trench]

Merriam Webster's

intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English encrochen to get, seize, from Anglo-French encrocher, from en- + croc, croche hook — more at crochet Date: 1528 1. to enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or rights of another 2. to advance beyond the usual or proper limits <the gradually encroaching sea> Synonyms: see trespass • encroacher noun • encroachment noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.intr. 1 (foll. by on, upon) intrude, esp. on another's territory or rights. 2 advance gradually beyond due limits. Derivatives: encroacher n. encroachment n. Etymology: ME f. OF encrochier (as EN-(1), crochier f. croc hook: see CROOK)

Webster's 1913 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 hook. See Crook, and cf. Accroach.] To enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or rights of another; to trespass; to intrude; to trench; -- commonly with on or upon; as, to encroach on a neighbor; to encroach on the highway. No sense, faculty, or member must encroach upon or interfere with the duty and office of another. --South. Superstition, . . . a creeping and encroaching evil. --Hooker. Exclude the encroaching cattle from thy ground. --Dryden. Syn: To intrude; trench; infringe; invade; trespass.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Encroach En*croach", n. Encroachment. [Obs.] --South.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(encroaches, encroaching, encroached) 1. If one thing encroaches on another, the first thing spreads or becomes stronger, and slowly begins to restrict the power, range, or effectiveness of the second thing. (FORMAL) The new institutions do not encroach on political power... The movie industry had chosen to ignore the encroaching competition of television. VERB: V on/upon n, V-ing [disapproval] 2. If something encroaches on a place, it spreads and takes over more and more of that place. (FORMAL) The rhododendrons encroached ever more on the twisting drive... I turned into the dirt road and followed it through encroaching trees and bushes. VERB: V on n, V-ing

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. n. 1. Trespass, intrude, infringe, trench, make inroad, make invasion. 2. Creep, advance stealthily, overtake unawares.

Moby Thesaurus

abuse a privilege, adopt, advance upon, appropriate, arrogate, assume, barge in, bother, break bounds, break in, break in upon, burst in, bust in, butt in, charge in, come between, crash, crash in, crash the gates, creep in, crowd in, cut in, edge in, elbow in, encroach upon, entrench, foist in, go too far, horn, horn in, impinge, impose, impose on, impose upon, inconvenience, infiltrate, infringe, insinuate, interfere, interlope, interpose, intervene, intrude, invade, irrupt, know no bounds, make an inroad, make free with, obtrude, obtrude upon, overstep, overstep the bounds, play God, press in, presume on, presume upon, pretend to, push in, put on, put upon, rush in, seize, slink in, slip in, smash in, sneak in, squeeze in, steal in, storm in, take a liberty, take liberties, take over, throng in, thrust in, transgress, trench, trespass, trouble, usurp, work in, worm in