Encroaching

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Encroach \En*croach"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Encroached}; p. pr.
     & vb. n. {Encroaching}.] [OF. encrochier to perch, prop., to
     hook, fasten a hook (perh. confused with acrochier, F.
     accrocher, to hook, get hold of, E. accroach); pref. en- (L.
     in) + F. croc hook. See {Crook}, and cf. {Accroach}.]
     To enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions


     or rights of another; to trespass; to intrude; to trench; --
     commonly with on or upon; as, to encroach on a neighbor; to
     encroach on the highway.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           No sense, faculty, or member must encroach upon or
           interfere with the duty and office of another. --South.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Superstition, . . . a creeping and encroaching evil.
                                                    --Hooker.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Exclude the encroaching cattle from thy ground.
                                                    --Dryden.
  
     Syn: To intrude; trench; infringe; invade; trespass.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  encroaching
       adj : gradually intrusive without right or permission; "we moved
             back from the encroaching tide"; "invasive tourists";
             "trespassing hunters" [syn: {encroaching(a)}, {invasive},
              {trespassing(a)}]