What is "compassed"

Usage examples of "compassed".

For first there was an exceeding great hill compassed about with big trees very high, with many turning bottoms full of sharp stones, whereby it was inaccessible.

When they were come within the chase to a great thicket fortressed about with bryers and thornes, they compassed round with their Dogs and beset every place with nets : by and by warning was given to let loose.

For they compassed him round about, sitting at the table, and abused the young man, contrary to all nature and reason.

Gentle reader, thou shalt not read of a fable, but rather a tragedy : This woman when her love began first to kindle in her heart, could easily resist her desire and inordinate appetite by reason of shame and feare, lest her intent should be knowne: But after it compassed and burned every part of her brest, she was compelled to yeeld unto the raging flame of Cupid, and under colour of the disease and infirmity of her body, to conceale the wound of her restlesse mind.

There after the images and reliques were orderly disposed, the great Priest compassed about with divers pictures according to the fashion of the Aegyptians, did dedicate and consecrate with certaine prayers a fair ship made very cunningly, and purified the same with a torch, an egge, and sulphur.

Can any one who knows that music, even of the modern dramatic type, in which strictly musical forms have given way to as persistent an onward flow as the text itself, must of necessity act as a clog on dramatic action, imagine that such a number and variety of scenes could be combined into a logical, consistent whole, compassed by four hours in performance?

The historical element is compassed by the fact that the principal human characters involved in it once had existence.

The historical element in "Lohengrin" is compassed by the figure of the king, who metes out justice melodiously in the opening and closing scenes.

Moreover, the creek to the north of this point can be compassed in an hour, and in two hours you can make the circuit of the salt marsh over which the sea may have extended in former times.

To stand before it in the flesh--to see it as they saw it now--to sail upon the hallowed sea, and kiss the holy soil that compassed it about: these were aspirations they had cherished while a generation dragged its lagging seasons by and left its furrows in their faces and its frosts upon their hair.

The main object compassed, the drooping, miserable party sat down to wait for the sun again, for all wanted to see the water as well as feel it.

Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him.

So by and byThrough that thicke couert he him led, and foundA darkesome way, which no man could descry,That deepe descended through the hollow ground,And was with dread and horrour compassed around.

That Turrets frame most admirable was,Like highest heauen compassed around,And lifted high aboue this earthly masse,Which it suruew'd, as hils doen lower ground.

Right in the middest of that Paradise,There stood a stately Mount, on whose round topA gloomy groue of mirtle trees did rise,Whose shadie boughes sharpe steele did neuer lop,Nor wicked beasts their tender buds did crop,But like a girlond compassed the hight,And from their fruitfull sides sweet gum did drop,That all the ground with precious deaw bedight,Threw forth most dainty odours, & most sweet delight.