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To Envelope or Envelop a Letter?

English Language & Usage Asked by andre1990 on February 15, 2021

I understand that Envelope is the noun and Envelop is the verb but, as I understand it, the verb envelop has more to do with the literally and figuratively surrounding of something.

If I’m enveloping a letter, what do I use? For example, I’m trying to describe a service where I will “Write, Envelope, and Post” a letter, is it envelope or envelop in this case?

One Answer

If I’m enveloping a letter, what do I use?

You do not use "to envelop."

OED:

2. To wrap, cover closely on all sides with a surrounding medium (e.g. clouds, darkness, flames, an atmosphere, etc.). Const. in, with. Also with the surrounding medium as subject.

1847 L. Hunt Jar of Honey (1848) ii. 15 One of these cliffs towers to such a height, that its summit is for ever enveloped in clouds.

The subject of the verb to envelop does the action:

"A dark mist enveloped the castle." - it is the dark mist that does the action of enveloping.

In "I envelop the letter." this means that you yourself would surround the letter on all sides or wrap yourself around the letter.

I suggest,

I will “Write a/the letter, put it in an envelope, and post it”.

However, it is hardly worth adding "put it in an envelope" as this would naturally be assumed because nobody sends open letters in the post.

Answered by Greybeard on February 15, 2021

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