entrench

English

WOTD – 14 September 2015

Etymology

Mid-16th century. en- +‎ trench

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈtɹɛntʃ/, /ɛnˈtɹɛntʃ/
• IPA^(key): /ɛnˈtɹɛntʃ/

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛntʃ
• Hyphenation: en‧trench

Verb

(transitive, intransitive)

1. (construction, archaeology) To dig or excavate a trench; to trench.
2. (military) To surround or provide with a trench, especially for defense; to dig in.

   The army entrenched its camp, or entrenched itself.

3. (figuratively) To establish a substantial position in business, politics, etc.
   • Senator Cornpone was able to entrench by spending millions on each campaign.
   • 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, "London Is Special, but Not That Special," New York Times (retrieved 28 September 2013):

     For London to have its own exclusive immigration policy would exacerbate the sense that immigration benefits only certain groups and disadvantages the rest. It would entrench the gap between London and the rest of the nation. And it would widen the breach between the public and the elite that has helped fuel anti-immigrant hostility.

4. To invade; to encroach; to infringe or trespass; to enter on, and take possession of, that which belongs to another; usually followed by on or upon.
5. To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon.
   • Shakespeare

     It was this very sword entrenched it.

   • Milton

     His face / Deep scars of thunder had entrenched.

Synonyms

• (dig): trench
• (surround with a trench): dig in
• (establish a solid, firm financial position): consolidate

Translations

dig

• Dutch: graven (nl)
• German: graben (de), ausheben (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: scavare (it), sterrare

surround with a trench

• Armenian: խրամապատել (hy) (xramapatel)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 挖掘壕沟

• Dutch: ingraven (nl)
• German: eingraben (de), verschanzen (de), mit einen Graben umgeben
• Italian: trincerare, fortificare (it)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Latin: please add this translation if you can
• Norwegian: forskanse
• Portuguese: entrincheirar (pt)
• Russian: окапывать (ru) (okapyvatʹ), окапываться (ru) (okapyvatʹsja)
• Spanish: atrincherar (es)

establish financial position

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 巩固 (zh) (gǒnggù)

• Dutch: zich (nl) vestigen (nl)
• German: Fuß fassen (de), etablieren (de), festigen (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: rafforzare (it), consolidare (it), cementare (it), potenziare (it), rinforzare (it)
• Norwegian: befeste, styrke (no)
• Spanish: atrincherar (es)
• Swedish: befästa (sv)