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Definition of ensconce verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

ensconce

verb
 
/ɪnˈskɒns/
 
/ɪnˈskɑːns/
(formal)
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they ensconce
 
/ɪnˈskɒns/
 
/ɪnˈskɑːns/
he / she / it ensconces
 
/ɪnˈskɒnsɪz/
 
/ɪnˈskɑːnsɪz/
past simple ensconced
 
/ɪnˈskɒnst/
 
/ɪnˈskɑːnst/
past participle ensconced
 
/ɪnˈskɒnst/
 
/ɪnˈskɑːnst/
-ing form ensconcing
 
/ɪnˈskɒnsɪŋ/
 
/ɪnˈskɑːnsɪŋ/
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  1. be ensconced (+adv./prep.) | ensconce yourself (+adv./prep.) if you are ensconced or ensconce yourself somewhere, you are made or make yourself comfortable and safe in that place or position
    • He ensconced himself in my bedroom as if he owned it.
    • The teacher was ensconced in an elaborate wooden chair.
    Word Originlate 16th cent. (in the senses ‘fortify’ and ‘shelter within or behind a fortification’; formerly also as insconce): from en-, in- ‘in’ + sconce ‘ a small fort used to defend a ford, pass or castle gate’.
See ensconce in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
ancient
adjective
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
A2
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