The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Encompass \En*com"pass\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encompassed; p.
   pr. & vb. n. Encompassing.]
   To circumscribe or go round so as to surround closely; to
   encircle; to inclose; to environ; as, a ring encompasses the
   finger; an army encompasses a city; a voyage encompassing the
   world. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         A question may be encompassed with difficulty. --C. J.
                                                  Smith.
   [1913 Webster]

         The love of all thy sons encompass thee. --Tennyson.

   Syn: To encircle; inclose; surround; include; environ;
        invest; hem in; shut up.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

encompass
    v 1: include in scope; include as part of something broader;
         have as one's sphere or territory; "This group encompasses
         a wide range of people from different backgrounds"; "this
         should cover everyone in the group" [syn: embrace,
         encompass, comprehend, cover]