ensconce

English

WOTD – 19 October 2006

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

(UK) IPA^(key): /ɛnˈskɒns/
(US) enPR: ĭn-skäns', IPA^(key): /ɛnˈskɑns/
Audio (US): (file)
Rhymes: -ɒns

Verb

ensconce (third-person singular simple present ensconces, present participle ensconcing, simple past and past participle ensconced)

(transitive) To place in a secure environment.
- c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:
  She shall not see me, I will ensconce mee behinde the Arras.
- 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.
(intransitive) To settle comfortably.
- 1941 June, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, pages 261, 263:
  So many invitations had been extended to this premiére that the train was pretty nearly full; [...] the press and other guests distributed themselves over the remaining accommodation, and I ensconced myself in a facing window seat in one of the compartments of the third-class brake next the tender.
- 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 the form ensconced, as in “she was ensconced in an armchair.”

Synonyms

(settle comfortably): cuddle up

Derived terms

ensconcement

Translations

to place in a secure environment

Dutch: veilig wegbergen,
German: sicher unterbringen
Russian: укрыва́ть (ru) impf (ukryvátʹ), укры́ть (ru) pf (ukrýtʹ)

to settle comfortably

Dutch: nestelen (nl)
German: bequem machen, niederlassen (de)
Russian: устра́иваться (ru) impf (ustráivatʹsja), устро́иться (ru) pf (ustróitʹsja)
Spanish: instalarse (es)