▪ I. wrap, n.
(ræp)
Also 5 wrappe.
[f. the vb. Not usual before the 19th cent.]
1. a. A wrapper or covering. Also fig.
| c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 212 Thow must square & proporcioun þy bred..and so shaltow make þy wrappe [v.r. wrapper] for þy master manerly. 1589 Hakluyt Voy. 216 In Goa they vse not to abate any tare of any goods, except of sacks or wraps. 1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma (1876) 100 That want of power to penetrate through wraps and appearances to the essence of things. |
b. A cover, blanket, rug, or the like for laying over or drawing about the person when travelling, reposing, etc. (
Cf. 2 b.)
| 1861 Daily Chron. 12 Sept., We have heard..Livingstone, the African explorer, and many other travellers, say that at night no wrap could equal the beard. 1863 Dicey Federal St. I. 54, I had..two large carpet-bags, a bundle of heavy wraps, and an umbrella, to transport with me. 1869 H. F. Tozer Highl. Turkey II. 15 A few wraps in case of a night bivouac. |
c. Material used for wrapping,
esp. very thin plastic film.
| 1930 Food Industries Jan. 13/1 [Cellophane] was first introduced into this country from France as a wrap for candy. Ibid., The transparent type of wrap proved decidedly popular. 1958 Chain Store Age Apr. 168/3 The Aluminum Company of America is now packaging Alcoa wrap in a ‘flat pak’. 1976 ‘O. Jacks’ Assassination Day v. 81 He bundled the notes up into foil wrap, put two in..his refrigerator. 1977 Time 14 Mar. 39/3 The thin sail (ordinary plastic kitchen wrap is five times thicker) would be coated with an aluminum reflecting layer on the side that will face the sun. 1979 Sci. Amer. Jan. 131/1 You could also build up layers of stretched plastic food wrap. 1980 Outdoor Life (U.S.) (Northeast ed.) Oct. 126/2 Cover an exposed drain valve with plastic wrap to prevent road slush from accumulating. |
2. a. A loose garment or article of feminine dress used or designed to envelop or fold about the person; a shawl, scarf, or the like.
| 1827 Lady's Mag. June 342/1 The Circassian wrap is much worn for half-dress;..it well sets off the fine bust of a well-made female. 1840 Ladies' Cabinet Mar. 201 This is not however the case with the cloaks or shawls adopted as wraps for evening parties. 1885 Mabel Collins Prettiest Woman x, Arthur..had the delight of putting Zadwidga's wrap around her shoulders. 1894 M. Dyan Man's Keeping (1899) 222 Her face..was close to his shoulder; a light wrap of lace framed it. |
b. An additional outer garment used or intended to be worn as a defence against wind or weather when driving, travelling, etc. Usu.
pl. (
Cf. 1 b.)
| a 1817 Jane Austen Watsons (1879) 353 Tom Musgrave in the wrap of a traveller. 1855 A. Manning O. Chelsea Bun-h. xiv. 229, I was taking off my wraps, and making ready to go up stairs. 1861 J. H. Bennet Winter Medit. (1875) i. x. 303 A bitter cold north-west wind..had been blowing, which obliged us to use all our wraps. 1898 J. B. Wollocombe Morn till Eve i. 2 After unrolling and unbuttoning his outer wraps, the doctor..ascended the stairs. |
3. a. spec. A single convolution, twist, or winding of a thread in fastening an object.
| 1879 Ogden in J. H. Keene Fishing Tackle (1886) 172 Secure it with one wrap and two hitches before taking the tweezers off, cut off silk [etc.]. |
b. techn. (See
quots.)
| 1888 C. P. Brown Cotton Manuf. 28 A complete revolution of the latter [worm-wheel] means 3564 yards—technically called a wrap. Ibid., If a warp contains 4 wraps and 7 teeth, it is 14,445 yards long. |
4. pl. In
fig. phrases referring to concealment or disuse, as
under wraps or
in wraps, concealed; in abeyance;
to take or pull the wraps off, to disclose; to bring back into use.
| 1939 Sun (Baltimore) 18 Dec. 3/6 The fact that the belligerents have kept their air power under wraps almost from the beginning reveals more than meets the eye. 1950 ‘S. Ransome’ Deadly Miss Ashley xv. 178 You grabbed his notebooks and tried..to keep them under wraps. 1956 A. H. Compton Atomic Quest 49 Some members of the committee were insistent that the entire uranium project should be put in wraps for the duration. 1964 New Society 15 Feb. 21/2 The Government took the wraps off its plan for regenerating the Northeast. 1965 Mrs. L. B. Johnson White House Diary 20 Jan. (1970) 226 Next Hubert [Humphrey] stepped forward—for once his exuberance was under wraps. 1973 Times 4 Oct. 4/3 Only now was the truth about battered wives being revealed ‘because the wraps have just been pulled off a taboo subject’. 1978 Dumfries Courier 20 Oct. 11/1 Show visitors will see numerous others which are still under wraps until nearer the Show. 1984 Times 14 May 7/2 This week will see the wraps coming off another popular project, where Britain wants to be seen leading the way. |
5. Cinemat. and
Television. The end of a session of filming or recording.
| 1974 M. Ayrton Midas Consequence i. 63 Other cars are heard starting up out of shot and the lights on the pergola go off so I assume it's a wrap and the crew is listening to the director saying something consequential and busy about tomorrow's call. 1980 J. Krantz Princess Daisy xii. 191 ‘Right, it's a wrap.’.. The large lights, cameras, sound equipment and other tools of the trade were quickly stowed away. 1983 Listener 23 June 18/2 The director says: ‘Cut! Thank you, Ben, that's a wrap—there is no more filming.’ |
6. Special
Combs. (see also
wrap-):
wrap party Cinemat., a party held to celebrate the completion of filming;
wrap reel,
wheel, a large revolving framework on which yarn can be wound and measured.
| 1978 J. Krantz Scruples xiii. 388 Work on Mirrors finished on schedule, on Friday, August 23rd, and the wrap party was scheduled for the next night. 1978 Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Queensland) 3 Apr. 6/4 At the wrap party..Syl played host in a three-piece white suit. |
| 1889 G. E. Davis Sizing & Mildew in Cotton Goods ii. 20 In order to test the fineness of yarn a wrap reel is used, measuring 54 inches in circumference, which is so arranged that by a single turn of a handle two complete revolutions are given to the reel itself. 1928 W. L. Balls Studies of Quality in Cotton xii. 235 The lea was wound upon wrap-reels of varying diameter. 1956 S. E. Ellacott Spinning & Weaving 36/2 Arkwright's wrap reel for measuring hanks of yarn (840 yards) was a six-armed revolving star with a winch handle. |
| 1953 Wrap wheel [see rice n.1 4]. 1969 E. H. Pinto Treen 318 After yarn had been spun on a spindle or spinning wheel, it was transferred on to a wrap or clock wheel, a rotary instrument which skeined and measured it. The original wrap wheel is always said to have been invented by Richard Arkwright. |
▸
orig. U.S. = body wrap n. at
body n. Additions. Freq. with modifying word indicating the type of treatment used.
Recorded earliest in
herbal wrap n. at
herbal adj. Additions.
| 1963 Los Angeles Times 8 Sept. e4/2 ‘I can't go for the hike, Doc. Banged my toe in water polo,’ begged off a city father heading for the herbal wrap pavilion. 1972 Nevada State Jrnl. 13 Aug. 6 a (advt.) We feel that the inch loss a person receives from our wrap is more permanent than dieting or exercise. 1985 Chicago Tribune (Nexis) 15 Sept. Guests can..enjoy body treatments that range from various kinds of massage to a seaweed wrap. 2000 Times 6 Oct. (Ski 2001 Suppl.) 15/4 At the Grand-Hotel Hof Ragaz's spa guests can receive a seaweed-and-sand body rub to aid circulation followed by a toxin-loosing algae wrap and a hydromassage. |
▸
orig. U.S. An item of food consisting of an edible outer layer wrapped around a filling;
esp. a tortilla or other flatbread wrapped around a sandwich-style filling.
| 1969 Frederick (Maryland) News-Post 29 Jan. b1/7 Fun-to-eat Halibut Bacon Wraps bring a warm fresh-broiled goodness with them. Prepare halibut ahead.., wrap with bacon and broil. 1989 Los Angeles Times (Nexis) 12 Oct. h1 The Juicy Wrap, a whole-wheat lavash (tortilla-type) sandwich..is popular at I Love Juicy in West Hollywood. 1994 P. Permenter & J. Bigley Texas Barbecue 47 We ordered a sausage wrap, with a generous length of sausage wrapped in a flour tortilla. 2001 N.Y. Times 13 June f3/5 Asians eat lettuce wraps year round. But these crisply packaged finger foods seem especially appropriate in summer. Wraps are also fun to make. |
▸
Brit. slang. A packet containing a small amount of an illegal drug in powder form.
| 1985 Times 13 Aug. 4/2 Mr David Elton, Liberal MP for Liverpool Edge Hill, says that the city is ‘awash’ in heroin and that ‘wraps’ can be bought for as little as {pstlg}5. 1995 DJ 6 July 41/2 An officer shows me the tools of tonight's trade..plus the drugs bag which is already half full with 70 ecstasy tablets, bags of weed and wraps of speed found abandoned on the ground. 2004 A. Hollinghurst Line of Beauty viii. 202 On other nights of the week he might be in and out of the lavatories of smart restaurants with his wrap of coke. |
▪ II. wrap obs. erron. f. rap n.1▪ III. wrap, v. (
ræp)
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. a. 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.. Coer 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. ― 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 Minstr. vi. xxvi, A shape with amice wrapp'd around. 1859 Dickens T. Two Cities i. ii, All three were wrapped to the cheek-bones 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 from 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. 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 T. 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 Phoebus 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
pass.,
= 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 tr. 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. a. 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. 1508 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 Shakes. Tit. A. iv. ii. 27 The old man..sends the weapons wrapt about with lines, That wound..to the quick. 1662 Evelyn Chalcogr. ii. (1906) 13 When he has quite don with his plates..see that he..cleanse them very perfectly, wrapping them 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 see 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. a. To envelop or enclose
in a surrounding medium, as flames, water, etc. Freq. in
pass. (
Cf. 6 d.) Also
refl.| 1382 Wyclif Exod. xiv. 27 The Egipciens fleynge,..the Lord wrapte hem with ynne in the myddel floodes. ― 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. 1785 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 Shakes. 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
pass. 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. tr. 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 tr. 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 Shakes. 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 Shakes. Tit. 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. a. 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
pass., 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 tr. 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, y{supt} [etc.]. 1526 Tindale Rom. xi. 32 God hath wrapped all nacions in vnbeleve. 1560 J. Daus tr. 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 tranquillizing state or influence. Freq. in
pass.,
= 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 Eloïsa 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. 1841 Dickens Barn. Rudge ix, The house is wrapped in slumbers. 1857 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. a. 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 Let. 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 Régime 14 Without troubling to wrap up his resolve in smooth-sounding words. |
6. a. 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 J. Daus tr. 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 Shakes. Lear iv. iii. 54 (Q. 1) Some deere cause Will in concealement wrap me vp awhile. 1650 Earl of Monmouth tr. 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! 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 Minstr. 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 Vision of 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 tranquility 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. |
7. to wrap up (
fig.)
a. trans. To put an end to, bring to completion; also, to defeat;
to wrap it up, to stop doing something.
slang.| 1926 T. E. Lawrence Seven Pillars (1935) iii. xxxvi. 213 The British were wrapping up the Arabs on all sides—at Aden, at Gaza, at Bagdad. 1937 Amer. Legion Monthly May 9/1 Only one shot to finish before midnight and we'd wrap it up in thirteen days. 1949 A. Miller Death of Salesman ii. 128 To hell with whose fault it is... Let's just wrap it up, heh? 1957 J. Osborne Look back in Anger i. 25 Wrap it up, will you? Stop ringing those bells! 1957 P. Frank Seven Days to Never ii. vii. 80, I guess that wraps it up for tonight... I don't know of anything else we can do. 1960 G. Sanders Mem. Professional Cad ii. iii. 127 ‘Wrap it up,’ he would shout. 1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 2 July 1-c/1 Nastase wrapped up Ramirez, 6-2, 9-7, 6-3. 1984 Times 14 Mar. 2/1 (heading) Labour MPs advised to wrap up their muck raking. |
b. intr. To stop talking. Freq. as
imp. slang.| 1943 Hunt & Pringle Service Slang 70 Wrap up, stop talking. Or, get ready to go home. 1945 C. H. Ward-Jackson Piece of Cake (ed. 2) 63 Wrap up!, Be quiet! Pipe down! 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights i. 49 Why dont you rap up. 1959 ‘O. Mills’ Stairway to Murder iv. 44 ‘Geoff, wrap up about the jigsaws,’ Charles entreated him. |
8. intr. Cinemat. and
Television. To finish filming or recording.
| 1976 in B. Armstrong Gloss. TV Terms 94. 1983 London Mag. Aug./Sept. 30 We wrapped on schedule, three days later... The movie got terrible reviews. |
II. 9. 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 þe 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 her 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 Thunder is..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 R. 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. |
10. a. 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 Werewolves 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. |
11. 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 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 around 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. |
12. to wrap oneself (a)round (an item of food or drink): to eat or drink it.
Occas. with non-
refl. direct
obj., to make (another) eat or drink.
colloq.| 1880 J. C. Harris Uncle Remus xv. 219 She cut me off er slishe..an' I sot down on de steps an' wrop myse'f roun' de whole blessid chunk. 1927 D. L. Sayers Unnatural Death xii. 136 Lord Peter, having wrapped himself affectionately round an abnormal quantity of bacon and eggs, strolled out. 1946 K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) xviii. 305, I bet they had to wrap Alec round a few beers before they got him up to the mark. 1959 G. Endore Detour through Devon 3 Wrap yourself around a cup of coffee. 1962 A. Lejeune Duel in Shadows ii. 25, I shall be glad to get indoors and wrap myself round a large drink. |
13. To crash (a vehicle) into a stationary object. Const.
around,
round.
slang.| 1950 J. D. MacDonald Brass Cupcake (1955) x. 105, I took a car off the street and wrapped it around an oak tree. 1958 ‘J. Brogan’ Cummings Report xvii. 183 Steady, or you'll have us both wrapped round a telegraph pole if you're not careful. 1969 L. G. Arthur in A. E. Wilkerson Rights of Children (1973) 132 If a child wraps a stolen car around a telephone pole, is $2,000.00 restitution..an excessive fine? 1984 Times 19 May 8/1 The men towing the boat from one training venue to another wrapped it round a traffic light. |
▪ IV. wrap erron. f. (
freq. c 1600–1680) of
rap v.
3| 1561 Norton & Sackv. Gorboduc iv. ii. 239 His noble limmes in such proportion cast As would have wrapt a sillie womans thought. 1592 No-body & Some-b. in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) 317 Your kinglie presence wraps my soule to heaven. 1615 Day Festivals 295 Al they can wrap and rend is little enough for Wife and Children. 1622 Peacham Compl. Gent. xvi. 206 Whatsoeuer he could wrap or wring. 1641 Symonds Serm. bef. Ho. Comm. C, The command must needs come with much evidence when it wrappeth the will into such an height. 1653 Holcroft Procopius, Vandal Wars ii. 55 Artabanes..[fell] into a deep musing,..seeming wrapt with the greatness of the action. 1679 C. Nesse Antid. agst. Popery 193 The Apostle..[was] wrap'd up to the third heaven. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. II. 408 He wraps and wrings all he can. 1922 E. Phillpotts Grey Room iv. 106 He was wrapt from this life to the next. |