ensconce

English

WOTD – 19 October 2006

Etymology

From en- +‎ sconce, “to place in a sconce (“fortification”)”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛnˈskɒns/
• enPR: ĭn-skäns', IPA^(key): /ɛnˈskɑns/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒns, -ɑns

Verb

1. (transitive) To place in a secure environment.
   • 1876, Mark Twain, chapter IX, in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:

     They found the sharp new heap they were seeking, and ensconced themselves within the protection of three great elms that grew in a bunch within a few feet of the grave.

   • 2014 January 21, Hermione Hoby, “Julia Roberts interview for August: Osage County – 'I might actually go to hell for this ...': Julia Roberts reveals why her violent, Oscar-nominated performance in August: Osage County made her feel 'like a terrible person' [print version: 'I might actually go to hell for this ...' (18 January 2014, p. R4)]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review)‎^[1]:

     The film grossed $464 million worldwide, ensconcing her in the Hollywood A-list.

2. (intransitive) To settle comfortably.
   • 1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:

     […] Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw, under a lantern which hung from a beam.

Usage notes

Particularly used in form ensconced, as in “she was ensconced in an armchair.”

Synonyms

• (settle comfortably): cuddle up

Translations

to place in a secure environment

• Dutch: veilig wegbergen,
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: укрыва́ть (ru) impf (ukryvátʹ), укры́ть (ru) pf (ukrýtʹ)

to settle comfortably

• Dutch: nestelen (nl),
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: устра́иваться (ru) impf (ustráivatʹsja), устро́иться (ru) pf (ustróitʹsja)

Further reading

• “ensconce”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “ensconce”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “ensconce”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.