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You might think of a sconce (the word that when combined with the prefix en- forms ensconce) as a type of candleholder or lamp, but the word can also refer to a defensive fortification, usually one made of earth. Originally, then, a person who was ensconced was enclosed in or concealed by such a structure, out of harm's way. One of the earliest writers to apply the verb ensconce with the general sense of "hide" was William Shakespeare. In The Merry Wives of Windsor the character Falstaff, hoping to avoid detection when he is surprised during an amorous moment with Mrs. Ford, says "She shall not see me; I will ensconce me behind the arras."
Examples of ensconce in a Sentence
Maria Laurino, The New Republic, 29 June 2023
For some perspective, though, consider that Licht is leaving for reasons that look like misdemeanors next to the routine atrocities at Fox News, where the management team appears ensconced after a $787.5 million settlement over knowing falsehoods that defamed Dominion Voting Systems.
—Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 7 June 2023
These small agricultural towns, founded by Spanish settlers and missionaries in the 18th century, are today ensconced in an agricultural landscape that collectively produces 28 percent of the nation’s strawberries, 57 percent of its celery, and 70 percent of its lettuce.
—Jeremy Miller, WIRED, 18 Feb. 2023
But the Bonettis were different — ensconced on a typical street in Maryland, living what appeared to be a typical American life.
—Manuel Roig-Franzia, Washington Post, 7 June 2023
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Dictionary Entries Near ensconce
Cite this Entry
“Ensconce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensconce. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
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ensconce
verb
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