Ensconce — En*sconce , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ensconced}; imp. & p. p. {Ensconcing}.] To cover or shelter, as with a sconce or fort; to place or hide securely; to conceal. [1913 Webster] She shall not see me: I will ensconce me behind the arras. Shak. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ensconce — [en skäns′, inskäns′] vt. ensconced, ensconcing [ EN 1 + SCONCE2] 1. Now Rare to hide; conceal; shelter 2. to place or settle comfortably, snugly, or securely [to ensconce oneself in an armchair] … English World dictionary
ensconce — 1580s, to cover with a fort, from EN (Cf. en ) (1) make, put in + sconce small fortification, shelter, perhaps via French, probably from Du. schans earthwork (Cf. M.H.G. schanze bundle of sticks ), of uncertain origin. Related: Ensconced … Etymology dictionary
ensconce — screen, secrete, *hide, conceal, cache, bury Analogous words: shield, guard, safeguard, protect, *defend: shelter, lodge (see HARBOR) Contrasted words: expose, exhibit, display, *show … New Dictionary of Synonyms
ensconce — [v] hide; tuck away bury, cache, conceal, cover, curl up, ditch, establish, fix, install, locate, nestle, place, plant, protect, screen, seat, secrete, set, settle, shelter, shield, situate, snuggle up, stash, station; concepts 188,201 Ant.… … New thesaurus
ensconce — ► VERB ▪ establish in a comfortable, safe, or secret place. ORIGIN originally in the senses «fortify» and «shelter with a fortification»: from archaic sconce, denoting a small fort or earthwork, from High German schanze brushwood … English terms dictionary
ensconce — UK [ɪnˈskɒns] / US [ɪnˈskɑns] verb [transitive] Word forms ensconce : present tense I/you/we/they ensconce he/she/it ensconces present participle ensconcing past tense ensconced past participle ensconced literary if you ensconce yourself or if… … English dictionary
ensconce — en|sconce [ınˈskɔns US ınˈska:ns] v [T usually passive] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: sconce small strong building for defense (16 19 centuries), from Dutch schans] to settle yourself in a place where you feel comfortable and safe ensconce in/at/on… … Dictionary of contemporary English
ensconce — en|sconce [ ın skans ] verb transitive LITERARY if you ensconce yourself somewhere, you put yourself into a comfortable or safe position … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
ensconce — verb (T) to put yourself in a comfortable and safe place: ensconce yourself: He ensconced himself in an armchair in front of the fire. | safely ensconced in the penthouse suite … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
