Engrossing hand

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.] [1913 Webster]

Waves . . . engrossed with mud. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Not sleeping, to engross his idle body. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. To amass. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal chirography on more substantial materials. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]

Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

{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}. [1913 Webster]