Definition of ENVISAGES (original) (raw)
1
: to view or regard in a certain way
envisages the slum as a hotbed of crime
2
: to have a mental picture of especially in advance of realization
envisages an entirely new system of education
Did you know?
Envisage this: a word is borrowed from French in the mid-17th century and sticks around to be used in the 21st. It’s not hard to picture; envisage is not alone in this accomplishment. Used today to mean “to have a mental picture of something, especially in advance of realization” and “to view or regard something in a certain way,” envisage for a time could also mean “to confront or face someone.” That use, which is now archaic, nods to the word’s origin: we borrowed envisage from French, but the visage part is from Anglo-French vis, meaning “face.” (It reaches back ultimately to Greek idein, “to see.”) Visage is of course also an English word. It entered English much earlier, in the 14th century, and is typically used today in literary contexts to refer to a person’s face. Envisage isn’t necessarily restricted to literary contexts, but it does have a formal tone. Its near twin envision (“to picture to oneself”), which has been with us since the 19th century, is interchangeable with envisage in many contexts and is somewhat less formal.
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for envisage
I just thought of a good joke
conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.
conceived of a new marketing approach
imagine stresses a visualization.
imagine you're at the beach
fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.
fancied himself a super athlete
realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.
realized the enormity of the task ahead
envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.
envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease
Examples of envisage in a Sentence
I envisage a day when proper health care will be available to everyone. I'm trying to envisage you on a surfboard.
Recent Examples on the Web The budget is due by October 1st and envisages cuts of Eur 30bn. —
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024 Though Dominion has not committed to building an SMR yet, one planning scenario envisages developing six such reactors starting in 2034. —Spencer Kimball,gabriel Cortés, CNBC, 7 Sep. 2024 Imports have dwindled to the weakest pace in almost two years as economic growth cools and top industry officials envisage a shift away from fossil fuels. —Grant Smith, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2024 Some thought an improved JCPOA lay within the realm of the possible, while others saw more potential in separate negotiations addressing discrete issues, and still others could envisage no deal at all. —Sanam Vakil, Foreign Affairs, 9 May 2019 See all Example Sentences for envisage 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'envisage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
French envisager, from en- + visage face
First Known Use
1660, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of envisage was in 1660
Dictionary Entries Near envisage
Cite this Entry
“Envisage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envisage. Accessed 30 Sep. 2024.
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Last Updated: 16 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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