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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
Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
The Cult of Reason lasted little more than a year before Robespierre, now ensconced as France’s dictator, replaced it with his own Cult of the Supreme Being.
—Paul Kingsnorth, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Gallivan left Capitol Hill in 2018 and became firmly ensconced in the private sector.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
And with the President safely ensconced behind the castle walls, the royal charm offensive has begun in earnest.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
shane Croucher
jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ensconce
Cite this Entry
“Ensconce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensconce. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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ensconce
verb
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