envelops

Envelops is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb envelop, meaning to surround, cover, or enclose completely. It can describe physical wrapping, such as fog enveloping a valley, or figurative wrapping, such as darkness enveloping a town. In everyday use, it often conveys a sense of enclosing or closing in on all sides. Example: The morning mist envelops the hillside.

Origin and related forms: The verb envelop comes from French envelopper, with the noun envelope referring to a flat paper container used for mail or documents. The two words share a root but differ in spelling and meaning: envelope is the noun, envelop the verb. In modern English, the standard third-person singular of the verb is envelops, while envelopes is the plural noun form.

Usage notes: Spelling can lead to confusion because envelops (the verb form) and envelopes (the plural noun) look alike. The context usually clarifies which is intended. The noun envelope denotes a thing into which letters or documents are placed, whereas the verb envelop describes the action of surrounding or enclosing something.

In summary, envelops is mainly used as a verb indicating surrounding or enclosing, while envelope refers to the physical container used for mailing. The two forms share a common root but serve distinct grammatical roles in English.