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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Engrossed bill

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.]

    Waves . . . engrossed with mud.
    --Spenser.

    Not sleeping, to engross his idle body.
    --Shak.

  2. To amass. [Obs.]

    To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf.
    --Shak.

  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.

    Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal chirography on more substantial materials.
    --Hawthorne.

    Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail.
    --De Quincey.

  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.

  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.

    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.