ensconce, v.
(ɛnˈskɒns)
Forms: 6 enscance, 7 ensconse, 6–7 inskonce, -se, 6–8 insconce, -se, 6– ensconce.
[f. en-1 + sconce n., small fortification, earthwork, prob. ad. OF. esconse hiding-place, place of shelter, whence esconser to hide, shelter, which may be the source of some of the uses of this verb. Cf. sconce v.
The form enscance in Barret suggests derivation from Du. skans = sconce.]
† 1. trans. To furnish with ‘sconces’ or earthworks; to fortify. Also absol. Obs.
| 1590 Sir J. Smythe Disc. Weapons 12 b, A vaine opinion of insconsing of Sconces in the drie grounds of England. 1611 Florio, Bastionare, to ensconce, to blocke. 1752 Carte Hist. Eng. III. 674 To insconce the bridges, to stop the fords. 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Ensconce, to intrench; to protect by a slight fortification. |
| absol. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres ii. i. 16 He is to enscance and fortifie as commodity and the place will permit. |
† 2. To shelter within or behind a fortification; also
transf. and
fig. Obs.| 1590 Shakes. Com. Err. ii. ii. 38, I must get a sconce for my head, and Insconce it to. 1593 ― Lucr. 1515 He entertain'd a show, so seeming iust, And therein so ensconc't his secret euill, that, etc. a 1628 Denison Heav. Banq. (1631) 80 The Israelites were insconsed with strong bulwarkes. 1663 Butler Hud. i. iii. 1349 A Fort of Error, to ensconce Absurdity and Ignorance. 1686 W. de Britaine Hum. Prud. Convers. 21 'Tis my Complacency that Vest to have, T' insconce my Person from Frigidity. a 1734 North Exam. iii. viii. ¶79 (1740) 644 His Person..is insconsed. |
† b. refl. Also
fig. Obs.| 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 13 Wet grounds where they may ensconce themselves with small cost within little Ilands. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia i. 6 Inskonsing my selfe euery two dayes, where I would leaue Garrisons for my retreat. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. i. 1115 He..Insconc'd himself as formidable As could be underneath a Table. |
| fig. c 1600 Shakes. Sonn. xlix, Against that time do I insconce me here Within the knowledge of mine owne desart. 1627 Speed England, etc., Wales xiv. §3 The Country hath not naturall prouision to ensconce her selfe against the extremitie of winds and weather. |
† c. intr. for refl.| 1600 Capt. Smith in Hakluyt Voy. III. 257, I would haue holden this course of insconsing euery two dayes march. 1663 Butler Hud. i. iii. 416 The Fort where he ensconc'd. 1721 D'Urfey New Operas 250 E'er I could Ensconce, comes up this Devil agen. |
3. trans. To establish in a place or position for the purpose
a. of concealment;
b. of security, comfort, ‘snugness’, etc. Chiefly
refl.| a. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. iii. iii. 97, I will ensconce mee behinde the Arras. 1826 Scott Woodst. viii, He must discover where this Stewart hath ensconced himself. 1841 Catlin N. Amer. Ind. (1844) I. xxi. 155, I have been closely ensconced in an earth-covered wig-wam. 1849 Miss Mulock J. Halifax (ed. 17) 329, [I] ensconced myself behind the sheltering bank blinds. 1877 Clery Min. Tact. xii. 147 Bodies of French skirmishers ensconced themselves in the undulations of the ground. |
| b. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 126 The parson, who was deeply ensconced in a high-backed oaken chair. 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xviii, Ensconcing themselves, in the warm chimney-corner. 1847 Ld. Lindsay Chr. Art. I. 121 A vine, emblematical of the church..the four doctors of the Latin church ensconced among its branches. 1862 Lytton Str. Story II. 73 His guest had ensconced himself in Forman's old study. |
Hence
enˈsconcing vbl. n.| 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 13 Their ensconcings in the drie grounds upon the Havens of England, are to small purpose. a 1652 Brome Mad Couple ii. i. Wks. 1873 I. 31, I need no more insconsing now in Ram-alley. |