source: /a/ - Anime & Manga (Archive) » Thread #157731729

verb with object

(of a natural force) sweep over (something) so as to surround or cover it completely:

〖通例be ～ed〗 【人･物･波などに】取り囲まれる, 覆われる «by, in»

e.g. the cafe was engulfed in flames

〈戦争･社会変化などが〉〈場所〉を完全に変える

e.g. figurative : Europe might be engulfed by war.

eat or swallow (something) whole:

～を飲み込む、巻き込む

e.g. the toad can engulf nestling birds.

engulfment noun

mid 16th century (formerly also as ingulf): from en-1, in-2 ‘in, on’ + gulf.