Forms: 6–8 enchace, 6–9 inchase, 7 inchace, 5– enchase. [In senses 1–3, 6 clearly a. F. enchâsser to enshrine (sacred relics), enclose, set (gems), encase; f. en in + châsse shrine, casket, case, setting:—L. capsa CASE sb.2 Whether senses 4–5 belong to the same word appears doubtful; they may naturally have been developed from 3, but in our quotations 4 appears as the earliest recorded sense, both of this word and of CHASE v.2 which is supposed to be an aphetic form of it.]
I. With the idea of ornamentation.
1. To ‘set’ as a jewel in (gold or other setting); also, of the enchasing material (quots. fig. only), to serve as a setting for.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1540), Q. A man being a diamond enchaced among men, yet … quicke and mery amonge women.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Worthy Commun., i. v. 98. Because the Sacrament is not without the word, they are a jewel enchas’d in gold when they are together.
1831. Brewster, Nat. Magic, vii. 159. A speaking head … of the sage Minos, which he had enchased in gold.
1877. W. Jones, Finger-ring L., 246. A gold ring with a ruby enchased.
fig. 1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. xii. 23. My ragged rimes are all too rude and bace Her heavenly lineaments for to enchace.
1607. Chapman, Bussy d’Ambois, Plays, 1873, II. 9. Thou hast … Glosse enough T’enchase in all shew, thy long smothered spirit.
1761. H. Walpole, in Four C. Eng. Lett., 268. Gray has translated two noble incantations…. They are to be enchased in a history of English bards.
1765. Gray, Lett., in Poems (1775), 314. Four small lakes … whose deep blue waters … contrasted with the black desert in which they were inchased.
1867. Swinburne, in Fortn. Rev., Oct., 420. Interludes … known … to many ignorant of their original setting, in which they are now again enchased.
2. To set (gold, etc.) with gems.
1615. G. Sandys, Rel. Journ., I. 75. The ornament of her head … of beaten gold, and inchaced with gems.
1690. Songs Costume (1849), 196. In box of beaten gold … Inchas’d with diamonds.
a. 1882. Longf., Morit. Salutamus, 199. Golden cups enchased with rubies.
b. transf. and fig.
1589. Greene, Menaphon (Arb.), 77. Like to the purest molde, Enchac’de with daintie daysies soft and white.
1593. Drayton, Eclog., I. 38. Whose floore with Stars is gloriously inchased.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad (1857), To Rdr. p. lxxi. Plato … with his [Homer’s] verses, as with precious gems, everywhere enchaceth his writings.
c. Said of the gems.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 725/93. To drink in Bowls which glitt’ring Gems enchase.
3. To inlay or variegate (metal, etc.) with gold or silver.
1640. G. Sandys, Christ’s Passion, 18. See those Roofs … the Beams With burnisht gold inchac’d, and blazing Gems.
1716–8. Lady M. W. Montague, Lett., I. x. 36. There was … a set of fine china for the tea-table enchased in gold.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XV. 129. This silver bowl, whose costly margins shine Enchas’d with gold.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. xliii. 603. His armour was enchased with gold.
4. To adorn with figures in relief, esp. of repoussé-work. Hence in wider sense, to engrave, ornament with engraved figures or patterns.
1463. Bury Wills (1850), 23. I wille she haue … my flat pece enchased to make with a saltsaler of sylver [in this document freq. chased in same sense].
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, II. 181. Figures of Inchased Work.
1717. Berkeley, in Fraser, Life (1871), 515. The house … being enchased with beautiful relievos of antiquity.
1828. Macaulay, Misc. Writ. (1860), I. 259. They are not enchased and relieved with the same skill.
b. To engrave (figures) on, in a surface; to portray by engraved figures.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Aug., 27. Wherein is enchased many a fayre sight.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 566. Within the hollow part and concauitie he inchased the conflict between the gods and the gyants.
1766. Chron., in Ann. Reg., 112/2. He [a type-founder] has found means to enchase the points or vowels, without which that character would be unintelligible.
1868. Sill, Poet’s Apol., I. v. Truth enchased upon a jewel rare, A man would keep.
5. transf. and fig. To adorn or variegate with figures resembling engraving.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 24. A wandring vine, Enchaced with a wanton yvie twine.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., in Farr, S. P. Jas. I. (1848), 47. A thousand colours did the bow enchace.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., viii. 117. His manly breast inchaste With sundry shapes of Beasts.
1816. Coleridge, Lay Serm., 346. The vegetable creation … inchases the … volume of the earth with the hieroglyphics of her history.
II. With the idea of inclusion.
6. To enshrine (as a relic) in. [The original sense in Fr.]
1643. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 46. Enchased in a crystal covered with gold.
1688. H. Wharton, Enthus. Ch. Rome, 24. [He] might … have his Bones enchased in Gold.
1823. Scott, Romance (1874), 68. The highly ornamented Church with which superstition has surrounded and enchased it [the famous hut of Loretto].
b. fig. (often passing into 7.)
1615. Chapman, Odyss., II. 415/26. And if (like him) there be in thee enchac’t Vertue to giue words works.
1626. T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 37. God seemeth to haue enchased all Christian perfection, in Charity.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., I. vii. 31. Thy holy Humanity inchased in the adorable Divinity.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Evang., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 100. Thy bright Idea in my Heart Enchase.
† 7. To close in, shut in, enclose. Obs.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 626. The Lyon … Enchaste with chaine and circulet of golde.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 626. They [magicians] giue direction … to inchase or inclose it [Chlorites] with a piece of yron.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, XII. 160/56. They charge him close: and stand (as in a towre They had inchac’t him) pouring on, of darts an Iron showre. Ibid., XIX. 274/346. Her selfe, the skies againe enchac’t.
1715. trans. Pancirollus’ Hist. Mem. Th., I. IV. xvi. 219. Samothrace … where was first invented the Art of encircling, or enchasing Iron with Gold [cf. 3].
8. To ‘let in’ to a ‘chase’ or mortice. Also transf. and fig.
1611. Cotgr., Iabler, to make the Croes of a Caske: viz. a furrow or hollow … whereinto the head-peeces may be enchased.
1616. J. B[owle], Sermon, 18. The Soule and the Body are olde friends, so enchased one into another, that [etc.].
a. 1774. Goldsmith, trans. Scarron’s Comic Romance (1775), i. 81. His whole head was enchased into his hat.
