Also 4–7 wrappe (6 arch. wrappen), 6 warppe, 6, 9 dial. warp, 7–8 rap, 9 dial. wrop. [Of obscure origin. Cf. the earlier BEWRAP v. (also BELAP v., LAP v.2 with the variant WLAPPE, and WAP v.2), and NFris. wrappe to press into, stop up, Da. dial. vrappe to stuff.
The dialect var. wrop had formerly greater currency. ‘This word is often pronounced rop, rhyming with top, even by speakers much above the vulgar’ (Walker, 1791). ‘The same pronunciation is not uncommon in some parts of the United States’ (Worcester, 1858).]
I. 1. To cover, enwrap or swathe (a person or part of the body) by enfolding in a cloth or the like; in later use esp., to envelop or enshroud with a garment; to attire, garb, clothe in an enfolding garment. Occas. refl. Also with advs., as about, around, round.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 975. Sone, y was wunt þe swetly to wrappe, Now swaþe y þe dede.
13[?]. Cour de L., 3094. Hys chaumberlayn hym wrappyd warm. He lay and slepte.
c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xx. 64. When thou bytoke hym me to clothe and wrappe.
c. 1450. Myrr. our Ladye, II. 245. The vyrgyn wrappynge and gatherynge togyther the handes and fete of her lytel sonne … in a bande.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Gen. xxxviii. 14. She … couered hir with a vaile, and wrapped her selfe. Ibid., Isaiah xxviii. 20. For the bed is streict…, and the couering narowe that one can not wrap him self.
1629. Milton, Hymn Nativ., i. The Heav’n-born-childe, All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 477. Some term Beasts thus wrapped about the Body [ante ‘with a Towel’] charged with a pale.
1791. Cowper, Iliad, III. 495. Helen … in her lucid veil close wrapt around, Silent retired.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, VI. xxvi. A shape with amice wrapp’d around.
1859. Dickens, T. Two Cities, I. ii. All three were wrapped to the cheekbones and over the ears.
1909. J. L. Allen, Bride of Mistletoe, vi. 159. Coarsely wrapped and carrying some bundle…, [she] opened her front door.
b. Const. in († on) or with. Also refl.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 745. He gript his mantel; as a weiȝh woful he wrapped him þer-inne. Ibid., 2609. Þei … wist wel þat þei went wrapped in þe skinnes.
c. 1375. Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903), 255/10. Iesu, swete, beo noth wroþ Þou ich nabbe clout ne cloþ … Þe on to folde ne to wrappe.
1382. Wyclif, Isaiah xxxvii. 1. King Ezechie … kutte his clothis, and wrappid is with a sac.
c. 1410. Love, Bonavent. Mirr., vi. (1908), 47. Sche … wrapped hym in the keuerchiefes of hir heued.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, I. 6169. Pouert eek liggith the colde wyntris nyht Wrappid in strauh, withoute compleynynge.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxvii. 59. Joseph toke the body, and wrapped it in a clene lynnyne clooth.
1547. Bk. Marchauntes, c v b. Thus coyffed and wrapped with their read hattes of this … capper, they go fro town to town.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. i. 52. Weake wretch I wrapt my selfe in Palmers weed.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 171. Married women … wrap their heads and mouthes with a narrow long piece of linnen.
a. 1680. Butler, Charac., Corrupt Judge (1908), 68. He wraps himself warm in Furs.
1755. J. Shebbeare, Matrimony (1766), I. 186. With his Legs wrapt close in a Pair of good Hay-Boots.
1784. Cowper, Task, VI. 675. Some noble lord Shall … wrap himself in Hamlet’s inky cloak.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxii. Sir Kenneth … then wrapped him in the haik, or Arab cloak. Ibid. (1831), Ct. Rob., xxviii. Let me wrap my head round with my mantle … to dispel this dizziness.
1871. Carlyle, in Mrs. Carlyle’s Lett., III. 247. We had to wrap our invalid in quite a heap of rugs and shawls.
transf. and fig. 1382. Wyclif, Job xxxviii. 9. Whan I shuld setten the cloude his clothing, and with dercnesse it … I wrappide aboute.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., Prol. He wrappeth him in his frend, þat condescendith to the rihtful preiers of his frend.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1036. So lewdly in my termes I me wrappe.
c. 1550. in Gamm. Gurton, II. I am so wrapt, and throwly lapt Of ioly good ale.
1575. Vautrollier, Luther on Ep. Gal., 136. As he [sc. Christ] is wrapped in our flesh and in our bloud.
c. 1640. Waller, Apol. Sleep, 28. Where Phœbus never shrouds His golden beams, nor wraps his face in clouds.
1675. T. Brooks, Gold. Key, 359. Faith wraps it self in the righteousness of Christ.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, VIII. 953. Sad Nilus … spreads his Mantle o’re the winding Coast; In which he wraps his Queen.
1753. Richardson, Grandison, II. xli. 313. I was resolved, if I were applied to, to wrap myself close about in a general denial.
1759. Mason, Caractacus, 75. Silent, as night, that wrapt us in her veil, We pac’d up yonder hill.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., V. iii. In words, like weeds, I’ll wrap me o’er.
1866. Reader, 2 June, 533. Francis II, wrapping the imperial phantom on its fall as decently as he could.
1880. Meredith, Tragic Com. (1881), 143. She had to wrap her shivering spirit in a blind reliance … on him.
c. Freq. with up; esp. in later use passive, = attired in warmer or protective clothing. Also refl.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., II. lxix. (1892), 495. If you continue to wrap up our young acquaintance … in such warm choice swadlings, it will quickly grow up to maturity.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., II. xviii. Now serves our guiltiness as winding sheet, To wrap up lepers; cover meet.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 10. In the night time they are forc’d to wrap themselves up in certain linnen cloaths.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 196. I know a gentleman … [whose] servant wraps him up in a sheet dipped in cold water.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 148. The former thinks the cold so severe, that he wraps himself up in all the garments he can procure.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., lvii. Are you well wrapped up?… It’s a desperate sharp night for a young lady to be out in.
1862. Kingston, Three Midshipmen, x. Their blankets … quickly dried, and the poor fellows were then wrapped up in them again.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, v. He had to be wrapped up against the cold and further fortified by a cup of black coffee.
d. absol. for refl.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xl. She never wrapped up enough. If a man don’t wrap up … he has nothing to fall back upon.
1872. March. Dufferin, Canad. Jrnl. (1891), 52. The governess … won’t wrap up…: nothing but a frost-bite will make her careful.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, ii. I advise you to take that delightful shawl of yours to wrap up in on your return.
2. To cover or envelop (an object) by winding or folding something round or about it; to surround with or enwrap in a covering, wrapper, or the like, esp. so as to protect from injury, damage, loss, etc. Also transf. (Cf. LAP v.2 3.)
1382. Wyclif, 1 Sam. xxi. 9. The swerd … is wrappid with a pal after the preestis coope.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 628. Canacee … softely in plastres gan hire [sc. an injured falcon] wrappe.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., X. iv. (Bodl. MS.). Briȝte bemes of stronge fuyre schyneþ but þei beþ wrapped.
1471. Caxton, Recuyell, 121 b. Hercules … brak the bondes in whiche he was wrapped and swaded in.
1484. Cely Papers (Camden), 149. iij Angelettes wrappyd yn paper.
1503. Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk., 269. Yf ye wyll wrappe your soueraynes brede stately.
c. 1550. H. Lloyd, Treas. Health, K j. Dyp wool in the decoction…, and let thy syde be wrapped often therewyth.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 110/2. The cod, or coate wherewith any kind of pulse is wrapped or couered.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return Parnass., I. iii. 352. He … furnishes the Chaundlers with wast papers to wrap candles in.
1647. J. Taylor (Water P.), Kings Welcome to Hampton Court, 3. Thou hast not wrap’d thy Talent in a Clout.
1676. Cotton, Angler, II. vii. 57. A great Hackle, the body black, and wrapped with a red feather.
1762. Cowper, To Miss Macartney, 33. Some Alpine mountain, wrapt in snow, Thus braves the whirling blast.
1812. Byron, Ch. Har., I. l. Subtle poniards, wrapt beneath the cloke.
c. 1890. Bp. Selwyn, in F. D. How, Life (1899), 260. We can’t be kept in bandboxes and wrapped in cotton wool all our lives.
1893. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (1907), 49. Wrap the tube in a piece of clean white paper.
fig. 1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 122. For all his witte in his wede ys wrappid ffor sothe.
1545. Bale, Myst. Iniq., 67. For that shall they be wrapped in the cheanes of longe darkenesse.
a. 1586. Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 27. Because thys second sorte is wrapped within the folde of the proposed subiect.
refl. 1526. Tindale, Gal. v. 1. Stond fast therfore…, and wrappe nott youre selves agayne in the yoke of bondage.
b. Freq. with advs., as about, down, round, together, and esp. up.
1382. Wyclif, Isaiah xiv. 19. Thou forsothe art cast aferr fro thi sepulcre…; and aboute wrappid with hem that ben slayn with swerd.
1577. Harrison, England, III. i. (1878), II. 11. When the Bore is … cut out, ech peece is wrapped vp … with bulrushes, ozier peeles, packethreed, or such like.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., IV. ii. 27. The old man … sends the weapons wrapt about with lines, That wound … to the quick.
1652. Evelyn, Chalcogr., II. (1906), 13. When he has quite don with his plates … see that he … cleanse them very perfectly, wrapping then up in papers.
1676. Cotton, Angler, II. viii. 78. A white Hackle, the body of white Mo-hair, and wrapped about with a white Hackle Feather.
1726. Swift, Adv. Grub-st. Writers, 8. Your still-born Poems shall revive, And scorn to wrap up Spice.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 35. When you use them, wrap them up in tow.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., xxiii. 566. Waxed paper is very useful for wrapping up deliquescent or changeable substances.
1846. Trench, Mirac., xxix. (1862), 418. Every limb was wrapped round with these stripes by itself.
ellipt. 1879. Ogden, in J. H. Keene, Fishing Tackle (1886), 170. Take a length of gut,… test it,… lay it underneath the hook, and wrap down with the waxed silk close and even.
† c. Prov. (See quot., and cf. LAP v.2 3 d.) Obs.–0
1677. Miége, Fr. Dict., II. Wrapped up in his mothers smock, aimé des femmes.
3. To envelop or enclose in a surrounding medium, as flames, water, etc. Freq. in passive. (Cf. 6 d) Also refl.
1382. Wyclif, Exod. xiv. 27. The Egipciens fleynge,… the Lord wrapte hem with ynne in the myddel floodes. Ibid., Judith xiv. 4. The dukis of hem … finden hym heded, in his blod wrappid.
c. 1510. Gesta Rom. (W. de Worde), A v. In his blode the bone was wrapped.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. xi. 55. Sad shadowes gan the world to hyde From mortall vew, and wrap in darkenesse dreare.
c. 1659. Roxb. Ball. (1888), VI. 326. A Man … Whose Father is wrapped in mould.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 158. Of these the vigilance I dread, and to elude, thus wrapt in mist Of midnight vapor glide obscure.
1715. Pope, Iliad, IV. 54. Fulfil thy stern desire, Burst all her gates, and wrap her walls in fire!
1761. Gray, Odin, 93. Till wrap’d in flames, in ruin hurl’d, Sinks the fabric of the world.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 124. Oh Winter,… Thy forehead wrapt in clouds, A leafless branch thy sceptre.
1814. Scott, Wav., i. The baron who wrapped the castle of his competitor in flames.
1908. G. Cormack, Egypt in Asia, ii. 18. The loftier summits are wrapped in clouds.
fig. and in fig. context. 1382. Wyclif, Job xxxvii. 19. Wee forsothe ben wrappid in dercnessis.
1508. Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. vi. Wks. (1876), 18. The fylthy voluptuousnes of the body, wherin the synner waltereth and wrappeth hymselfe lyke as a sowe waloweth … in the puddell.
1604. Shaks., Ham., V. ii. 128 (Q. 2). Why doe we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath?
1896. Mrs. Caffyn, Quaker Grandmother, 176. Wrapping sin in clouds won’t alter its character, my girl.
ellipt. 1382. Wyclif, Judg. v. 27. And he was wrappid bifore the feet of hir.
† b. To involve, environ or entangle (a person, etc.) in something that impedes movement or restricts liberty; to catch in this way. Chiefly in passive. Also with in. Obs.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1686. Be war of þencombraunce Of þe feend, which … him castiþ þe wrappe in & wrye.
1560. A. L., trans. Calvin’s Foure Serm. Songe Ezech. (1574), D vij. When we shall mourne so that we should be so wrapped in and tangled.
1562. A. Brooke, Romeus & Jul., 220. How surely are the wareles wrapt by those that lye in wayte?
1569. Blague, Sch. Conceytes, 268. The Hart … being entred into a thick wood, his horns were wrapped faste in the boughes.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades, 158/1. Absalom … beeing wrapped by the haire to a tree.
fig. 1591. Greene, 2nd Pt. Conny Catching (1592), B 4. These moathes of the Common-wealth, apply their wits to wrappe in wealthy farmers with strange and vncoth conceits.
1594. Shaks., Lucr., 636. O how are they wrapt in with infamies, That from their own misdeeds askaunce their eyes?
c. To clasp, embrace. Also in fig. context. (Cf. LAP v.2 3 c.)
1588. Shaks., Titus A., IV. ii. 58. What dost thou wrap and fumble in thine armes?
a. 1600. Deloney, Gentle Craft, II. vii. To perswade our great Grandmother the earth to wrap his cold body in her warme bosome.
1716. Gay, Trivia, I. 192. Others you’ll see … Wrapt in th’embraces of a kersey coat.
1797. Coleridge, Melancholy, 3. Her folded arms wrapping her tatter’d pall.
4. To envelop, entangle or implicate (a person, etc.) in († into), to surround, encompass, or beset with, some (esp. prejudicial) condition of things, as sin, trouble, sorrow, etc. (Cf. ENWRAP v. 2 c.) Also occas. with up.
Freq. in passive, not always distinguishable from 6.
1380. Lay Folks Catech. (Lamb. MS.), 81. We be … wrappid with many myscheuys.
a. 1400. Relig. Lyrics 14th C. (1924), 234. Mannes soule was wrapped in wo.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 959. My goost is wrapped in an heuy drede.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. v. 68. A synner þou art & encombred and wrapped in many passions.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. vii. 16. Suche as than bare moost rule in the towne, were so wrapped with treason, yt [etc.].
1526. Tindale, Rom. xi. 32. God hath wrapped all nacions in vnbeleve.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 37 b. The deuill is disposed to wrap vs in sondry calamities at one time.
1624. Carleton, Thankf. Remembr., ix. 95. They … stirred vp new troubles … by wrapping them in new garboiles against the King.
c. 1659. Roxb. Ball. (1886), VI. 326. It is a Man wrapped in woe.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 40. I see him brood, Wrapt in his mental solitude.
1859. Tennyson, Guinevere, 147. So the stately Queen abode…, Wrapt in her grief.
1899. G. Wyndham, in Westm. Gaz., 15 Dec., 5/3. We were living from day to day wrapped in anxiety.
refl. c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 586. Alle this manere of folk … wrappen hem in hir synnes.
c. 1430. in Pol., Rel., & L. Poems (1903), 217. Þou wrappist þee wiþ vanytees.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 49. He brought him selfe into a streyghter custody … and wrapped him selfe into tortures and punyshmentes.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Induco, To wrappe or intangle him selfe in captious questions.
1675. Dryden, Aurengz., I. (1676), 13. Though in one Fate I wrap my self and you.
transf. c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, III. 418. Unhappy Deity! Why lov’st thou still in these deceits to wrap my fantasy?
b. To involve, enfold or enwrap (a person, etc.) in some soothing or tranquilizing state or influence. Freq. in passive, = sunk in slumber, rest, etc. Also with up.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 291. Ho so þus leued his lyff to the ende, Euere wrappid in welle,… Myȝte seie [etc.].
1414. Brampton, Penit. Ps. (Percy Soc.), 10. Whan I am wrappyd in wele.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 41. Carelesse Quiet lyes, Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enemyes.
1598. Mucedorus, IV. i. 42. Musicke speake loudly now, the season’s apt, For former dolours are in pleasure wrapt.
1717. Pope, Eloisa, 302. Enter, each mild, each amicable guest; Receive, and wrap me in eternal rest!
1730. Thomson, Autumn, 1202. He … hears, At distance safe, the human tempest roar, Wrapt close in conscious peace.
1798. Coleridge, Fears in Solitude, 25. His senses gradually wrapt In a half sleep, he dreams of better worlds.
1847. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, ix. The house is wrapped in slumbers.
1857. J. G. Holland, Bay Path, xxx. 371. Wrapped in ineffable repose, lay her child.
1872. Punch, 2 March 95/2. They were soon wrapped in sound and healthy slumbers.
fig. 1791. Coleridge, Happiness, 79. Where far from splendour, far from riot, In silence wrapt sleeps careless Quiet.
5. To involve or enfold (a subject or matter) so as to obscure or disguise the true or full nature of it; to conceal or hide by enveloping in a mass of different character. Cf. 3.
1382. Wyclif, Job xxxviii. 2. Who is this, wrappende in sentencis with woordis vnwise?
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sqr.’s T., 507. Al were he ful of treson and falsnesse It was so wrapped vnder humble cheere And vnder hewe of trouthe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1426. A word þat is wrappid, and in wrath holdyn.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Implicata res controversiis, a mattier wrapped and incombred with many controuersies.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. iv. He dispatched privat letters to al those principall Lords…, wrapping their hopes with such cunning, as they rather [etc.].
a. 1639. T. Carew, Ingrateful Beauty Threatened, iii. Wise poets, that wrapt Truth in tales.
1712–4. Pope, Rape Lock, II. 104. Some dire disaster…; But what, or where, the fates have wrapt in night.
1759. Mason, Caractacus, 41. Heard’st thou the awful invocation, Youth, Wrapt in those holy harpings?
a. 1770. Jortin, Serm. (1771), I. v. 85. The religion of the Egyptians … was all mystery, wrapt in obscurity.
1825. Scott, Talism., xviii. I have no objection that leeches should wrap their words in mist.
1833. Mrs. Browning, Prometh. Bound, Poems (1850), I. 184. Zeus requires Thy declaration … Do not wrap thy speech … but speak clearly!
1865. R. W. Dale, Jew. Temp., iii. (1877), 35. The image wrapped in the word … is a very impressive and instructive one.
1869. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1875), III. xii. 253. I found the question wrapped in darkness.
b. Freq. with up. Also transf.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Micah vii. 3. Therefore the great man he speaketh out the corruption of his soule: so they wrap it vp.
1601. Daniel, To Egerton, vi. If it be wisedome … Which so imbroyles the state of truth with brawles, And wrappes it vp in strange confusednesse.
1619. Visct. Doncaster, Lett., in Eng. & Germ. (Camden), 119. Sum more bitternes then her Highnes had wrapped up in sweet termes.
1669. Stillingfl., Serm., 125. Here is no wrapping up Religion in strange figures and mysterious non-sense, which the Ægyptians were so much given to.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 271, ¶ 4. If it had been proper for them [sc. ladies] to hear,… the Author would not have wrapp’d it up in Greek.
1779. Mirror, No. 22. It was some error in education which had wrapt up Cleone’s character in so much obscurity.
1830. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 228. Their best … plan for seizing on the savings of other men’s industry in the funds, is only spoliation wrapped up.
1897. P. Warung, Tales Old Regime, 14. Without troubling to wrap up his resolve in smooth-sounding words.
6. Of qualities, etc.: To invest, environ or beset (a person, etc.); to encompass in some condition. Also with up. (Cf. 4.)
1382. Wyclif, Job xviii. 11. Al aboute feris shul gasten hym, and withinne wrappen his feet.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. 1 Cor. 18. Albeit matrimonie be a holy thyng, yet it wrappeth a man … in worldlye care.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 358 b. The self same cause … wyl shortly after wrap vp them also in great distresse.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 602. Ay me … whom euill hap Vnworthy in such wretchednes doth wrap.
1608. Shaks., Lear, IV. iii. 54 (Q. 1). Some deere cause Will in concealement wrap me vp awhile.
1650. Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 388. Humane Justice … wraps up the innocent and the guilty in the same punishment.
1665. Sir R. Howard & Dryden, Ind. Queen, II. i. Guilty rage, Which … wrapt all things in one cruel fate.
1734. Watts, Reliq. Juv., 122. Thy power, thy fulness of blessing, wrap my soul up in astonishment and devout silence.
1737. Pope, Hor., Ep., II. i. 401. O’er the land and deep, Peace stole her wing, and wrapt the world in sleep.
1784. Cowper, Task, III. 146. They disentangle from the puzzled skein, In which obscurity has wrapp’d them up, The threads of … shrewd design.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, VI. xxx. Oblivion wrapped Our spirits.
transf. a. 1542. Wyat, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 73. Some pleasant hower thy wo may wrappe, and thee defend, and couer.
b. Of mould, etc.: To contain, cover (the dead).
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. v. By the fresh turned up mould that wraps my sonne.
1745. Collins, Ode on Death of Col. Ross, vii. Every sod, which wraps the dead.
1792. Burns, Highland Mary, iii. Cauld’s the clay, That wraps my Highland Mary! Ibid. (1794), Sonn. Death R. Riddel, ii. The sod that wraps my friend.
c. To form a wrap or covering for (a person or thing); to cover, clothe. Also with round.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, X. 122. About him a mandilion,… A garment that ’gainst cold in nights, did soldiers use to wrap.
1732. Pope, Ep. to Cobham, 249. Let a charming Chintz, and Brussels lace Wrap my cold limbs, and shade my lifeless face.
1805. Scott, Last Minstrel, II. xix. A palmer’s amice wrapp’d him round.
1871. Amer. Encycl. Printing, 504/1. Wrappers … differ from them [sc. labels] in having larger margins, so that they can inclose or wrap up a bottle of patent medicine, a bar of soap, etc.
fig. 1842. Tennyson, Vis. Sin, IV. v. Wine is good for shrivell’d lips, When a blanket wraps the day.
d. Of flames, etc.: To spread or extend around, about or over (something); to surround, encompass. (Cf. 3.) Also with advs., as round, up.
1656. Cowley, Davideis, II. 534. [A] sudden cloud … all his fame benights, and all his store, Wrapping him round, and now he’s seen no more.
1699. Garth, Dispens., II. 13. Night had wrap’d in Shades the Mountain Heads.
1716. Gay, Trivia, III. 385. Flames sudden wrap the walls.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), I. 357. Our own muddy atmosphere, that wraps us round in obscurity.
1810. Scott, Lady of L., III. xxiv. Not faster … speeds the midnight blaze,… Wrapping thy cliffs in purple glow.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xviii. 133. A thick fog … wrapped the mountain quite closely.
1899. Crockett, Kit Kennedy, 337. The snow had wrapped all the city in a white clinging mystery.
fig. 1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xv. How beautiful was the tranquillity that wrapped the scene.
1813. Shelley, Q. Mab, IV. 4. The speaking quietude That wraps this moveless scene.
e. To veil or conceal from a person, etc.
1817. Shelley, Rev. Islam, Ded. xiv. While clouds are passing by Which wrap them [sc. stars] from the foundering seaman’s sight.
1867. Morris, Jason, II. 105. A cloud … That wrapt the Goddess from him.
II. 7. To wind or fold up or together, as a pliant or flexible object; to roll or gather up in successive layers; = LAP v.2 2. Occas. with up or together. Also transf.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 2421. As bliue be bere schinnes from here bodi þei hent, & wiȝtly wrapped hem to-gadere.
14[?]. Trevisa’s Barth. De P. R., XVIII. ix. (B.M. Add. MS.), fol. 266 b/2. Alle kynde of serpentes and addres þat by kynde may wrappe and folde his owne body.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings ii. 8. Then toke Elias his cloke, and wrapped it together.
1555. W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. ii. B v. For saie thei, the begynner of thinges visible, wrapped vp bothe heauen and earth … togither in one paterne.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 18. The vgly monster…, wrapping vp her wrethed sterne arownd, Lept fierce vpon his shield.
1600. in Lyly’s Wks. (1902), I. 416. Can there be miste or darkenes where you are, whose beames wrappes up cloudes as whirlewindes dust?
1608. Great Frost, in Arber, Garner, I. 87. The western barges might now wrap up their smoky sails; for … their voyage was spoiled.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 304. Thunderis … an exhalation … thickened and wraped into a cloud.
1662. R. Venables, Experienc’d Angler, v. 61. Bream loveth red worms, especially those that [lie] … wrapped up in a knot or round Clue.
fig. c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., II. met. vii. (1868), 60. Deeþ wrappeþ to gidre þe heye heuedes and þe lowe.
1382. Wyclif, Lam. i. 14. Wakide the ȝoc of my wickenesses in his hond, wrappid thei ben togidere, and leid on my necke.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, I. 82. Wayte well my wordis, and wrappe hem togedir.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 27. In these fewe lines, I haue wrapped vp the most tedious part of Grammer.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 337. For end, he wisheth malicious … persons a better spirit … and so wrappeth vp all with commendations.
1618. Donne, Serm. (1661), III. 173. In all this, thou dost but wrap up a snow-ball upon a coal of fire.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Cunning (Arb.), 441. Some haue in readinesse so many Tales and Stories, as there is Nothing, they would insinuate, but they can wrap it into a Tale.
refl. 1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Torqueo, The scalie serpent wrappeth himselfe in rounde rundels.
8. To fold, wind or roll (a covering, garment, or the like) about a person, etc.; to arrange or dispose (a wrapping, etc.) so as to cover or envelop; = LAP v.2 1. Usu. with advs. or preps., esp. about, around, round.
Somewhat rare before c. 1790.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 7368. A large couerechief of threde She wrapped all aboute hir heede.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Intortus, His garment wrapped rounde about his lefte arme.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. ix. 36. His garment…, The which his naked sides he wrapt abouts.
1636. Sir H. Blount, Voy., 19. The Levantines used to wrap white linnen about their heads.
1773. Graves, Spiritual Quixote, XI. iv. Unto the old Incumbent at his gate…, His banyan, with silver clasp, wrapt round His shrinking paunch.
1796. Coleridge, ‘Away, those cloudy looks,’ vi. There shiv’ring sad,… Round his tir’d limbs to wrap the purple vest.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, I. i. The warder … wraps his shaggy mantle round.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. vi. 45. Wrapping my plaid around me, I wandered up towards Charmoz.
1882. Blackw. Mag., March, 309/1. Dick … wrapped the heavy coat around her and held her in his arms.
fig. and transf. a. 1814. Wordsw., Excurs., IV. 83. Thou, who didst wrap the cloud Of infancy around us.
1820. Shelley, Hymn Merc., xxxvi. The God wraps a purple atmosphere Around his shoulders.
1865. Baring-Gould, Were-wolves, x. 160. Among many … people, the body is regarded as a mere garment wrapped around the soul.
b. To twist or coil (a pliable or flexible substance, etc.) round, about or on something; to twine. Also refl.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 127. Cutte the settes … the more halue a-sonder;… and wrappe and wynde theym together.
1535. Coverdale, Jonah, ii. 5. The depe laye aboute me, and the wedes were wrapte aboute myne heade.
1560. Bible, Job, viii. 17. The rotes thereof are wrapped about the fountaine.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, 390. Woodbine hath many small branches, whereby it windeth and wrappeth itself about trees.
1728. Chambers, Cycl. (1738), s.v. Turban, About this [cap] is wrapped a long piece of fine thin linnen or cotton.
1753–4. Richardson, Grandison, II. xxxix. 310. Again she wrapped her arms about me.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 119. The Screw of Archimedes … is formed by wrapping a tube round a cylinder.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xxviii. ‘What did you wrap this round the book for?’ said St. Clare, holding up the crape.
1854. R. Blakey, Angling, 60. A strong peg … on which … the line can be wrapped.
9. a. intr. (for refl.). To twine, encircle or wreathe round or about something as or in the manner of a wrapper or cover; = LAP v.2 1 b. Also transf.
1608. Relat. Trav. W. Bush, D j b. The Vyne so loueth the Elme by nature that it wrappeth more kindely about it.
1680. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., xiii. 223. A Flat Leather Thong, which wrapping close and tight about the Rowler … commands it the easier.
1681. T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 35 (1713), I. 228. Well; and Conscience,… when you have once boil’d it tender in the Pipkin of Reformation, it will wrap about your Finger like a Glove.
1838. Worthington, in Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 272/1. [With] the formation of the extreme end of the breakwater … it would be next to impossible for a sea to warp or wrap round it.
1855. Orr’s Circ. Sci., Inorg. Nat., 55. Gneiss is often found wrapping round the central granitic axis of mountain chains.
b. Of a garment: To extend over the figure, etc., so as to cover it, or form a lap. (Cf. LAP v.2 8.)
1798. Lady’s Monthly Mus., Nov. I. 397. The gown, wrapping over one side,… drawn up a little with white cord.
1827. Lady’s Mag., Nov., 621/1. Mantles … well wadded, capacious, and wrapping well over the form, are much in request.
