My logophile friend sent me this interesting discussion of engrossed.

Apparently, it comes from the Latin word, ingrossare, meaning to write in large letters. The French have a similar word, en gros, which has gone through several meanings, to buy up, to monopolize, and then to make full use, as in making full use of your mind or being focused.

Have you ever known engrossed to mean write in large letters?

It survives in a legal context. When documents are written out they are engrossed.

Dictionary.com gives a number of definitions, including:

quote:

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To copy or write in a large hand (en gross, i. e., in large); to write a fair copy of in distinct and legible characters; as, to engross a deed or like instrument on parchment.

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