Encompassed

Encompassed is the past tense of encompass, a transitive verb meaning to include or contain within a boundary or scope; to surround on all sides; to cover comprehensively.

In physical terms, it can describe being surrounded by a feature: The town is encompassed by a defensive wall. In abstract terms, it denotes the inclusion of elements within a larger concept: The study encompassed ethics, law, and policy.

It is often used to indicate breadth, suggesting that a subject covers a wide range rather than merely listing items. The project encompassed five departments and extensive fieldwork.

Encompassed is a common form in formal or academic writing and can be used actively (The survey encompassed several regions) or passively (The region was encompassed by a mountain range).

A note on etymology: the word derives from en- (in, within) and compass (a circle or boundary), reflecting the sense of surrounding or enclosing.

Related terms include include, contain, comprise, and cover; a common antonym is exclude.