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encompass/contain

English translation: inclusive vs. restrictive

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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	encompass/contain
English translation:	inclusive vs. restrictive
Entered by:	NancyLynn

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18:35 Jan 17, 2012

English to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

English term or phrase: encompass/contain

when one says in English:

They are contained by sth.

They are encompassed by sth.

What is the difference for an English speaker?

priscila santos KudoZ activity Questions: 63 (3 open) (5 closed without grading) Answers: 1
Local time: 22:05

inclusive vs. restrictive

Explanation:
I would say that when something is contained, it is restricted, as in containing a fire or a viral outbreak. To contain something means to hold it in a container.

To encompass means to include thoroughly, comprehensively. It's broader in scope. Think of the term "all-encompassing".

Selected response from:

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 21:05

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +5

inclusive vs. restrictive

NancyLynn

include, surround / hold, restrain

Tony M

held back by smth /surrounded by smth

Alexandra Taggart

Answers

7 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

inclusive vs. restrictive

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 21:05
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Notes to answerer

Asker: thank you!

6 mins confidence:

held back by smth /surrounded by smth

Explanation:
Seems, they are military terms.

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Note added at 15 mins (2012-01-17 18:50:34 GMT)
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http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/513-contained-armed-forces-custody-1...
http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/513-contained-armed-forces-custody-1...

http://www.synonymfor.com/encompassed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Armed_Forces

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Note added at 22 mins (2012-01-17 18:57:31 GMT)
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When someone wants to contain something - he wants to keep it/ stop going away;
When someone wants to encompass something - he fences it/ puts a barrier around.

Alexandra Taggart
Russian Federation
Local time: 05:05
Native speaker of:

English,

Russian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

neutral

Tony M: By no means exclusively "military terms", widely used in general language too. And I think you're suggested definitions are a bit too narrow to be genarlly applicable. / ??? But in neither of those could you use either 'encompass' or (really) 'contain'

12 mins

-> Why should they be? You can add any noun you like and you will see that it works:held back by fear /encompassed by fear; what a fun!!!

neutral

Carol Gullidge: sorry, but 'encompassed by fear' doesn't work at all!//who said what? If you're referring to my statement, "encompassed by fear" simply doesn't collocate in English, ie, nobody would say it

1 hr

-> Did you bother to check yourself?http://www.google.com/search?q=encompassed by fear&hl=en&sou...

neutral

B D Finch: I agree with Tony and Carol. Not specifically military terms and your definitions and examples are too restricted and don't work. An oil spill would be contained to prevent it polluting a larger area. It certainly would not be "encompassed".//Afraid so.

2 hrs

-> Well, probably, I was too quick to say"military terms".Didn't get your last two sentences:does it contradict what I said?

27 mins confidence:

encompass / contain include, surround / hold, restrain

Explanation:
I think Nancy has already explained it very well, but I thought it might help you if I posted (some of) the relevant definitions from the NS OED. Note that 'contain' has 2 broad meaning groups:

contain
I Have in it.
1 v.t. Include as a part or the whole of its substance or content; comprise.
b Of a measure: be equal to (so much or many of another).
c Math. Of a number: be divisible by, esp. without a remainder. Usu. in pass.

2 v.t. Extend over, take up.

3 v.t. Have inside itself, (be able to) hold within itself.

4 v.t. Have (an area, a space, etc.) within its boundaries, enclose (between, within); Math. form the boundary of (a geometric figure). Usu. in pass.
Examples:

1 J. TYNDALL The rock..contains a good deal of iron.
T. HARDY The next letter..contained..a statement of his position.

2 SWIFT A complete history..would contain twelve large volumes in folio.

3 A. URE Waggons..containing each 53 cwts.
J. BUCHAN The side pocket..contained an old..cigar case.

4 OED The space contained between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

II Restrain, control.
5 v.t. Restrain, keep in check, repress, (oneself, one’s emotions etc.)

6 v.refl. & i. Behave.

7 v.t. Restrict, limit, confine. Now esp. keep (a hostile force, ideology, etc.) within certain boundaries; prevent from moving or extending.

encompass
1 Surround, encircle; envelop, contain; include comprehensively, embrace.

2 Make a circuit round, go all round.

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Note added at 35 minutes (2012-01-17 19:10:23 GMT)
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Here are some less illustrious examples of my own!

"This bucket contains (= holds) 5 gallons" (we couldn't use 'encompasses' here!)

"The new Act encompasses many important reforms, but sadly the text contains many errors" (couldn't really interchange them here!)

"He could hardly contain (= restrain) his excitement waiting for the match on Saturday"

I'd say generally 'encompass' can be usually safely used with more abstract things, whereas 'contain' is more likely to be what you need for something more physical / concrete.

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Note added at 38 minutes (2012-01-17 19:13:33 GMT)
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(Though that's only a rough rule-of-thumb guide that wouldn't stand up to cross-examination!)

Tony M
France
Local time: 03:05
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 137

Voters for reclassification
as
PRO / non-PRO

Non-PRO (1): Tony M

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Changes made by editors

Jan 31 - Changes made by NancyLynn:
Created KOG entry	KudoZ term => KOG term
Jan 17 - Changes made by Tony M:
Field	Social Sciences => Other
Field (specific)	Poetry & Literature => General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

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