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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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026
The advent of video podcasts has engendered seismic changes in how podcasts are consumed, most notably the consumption of podcasts previously tethered to the smartphone, but now comfortably ensconced in living rooms on smart TVS.
—Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
For a shape to be convex, any line between two points inside of it or on its perimeter must be fully ensconced within it.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
In other words, worlds apart from the one in which Lucien is ensconced.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ensconce
Cite this Entry
“Ensconce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ensconce. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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ensconce
verb
