ensconce

/in'skɔns/

Học thuật

Thân thiện

He ensconced himself comfortably in the armchair by the fireplace.

Definition

Verb:
- To settle or establish oneself securely and comfortably: To place or fix oneself in a safe, comfortable, or hidden position.
- To place or hide something securely: To put something in a place where it is safe, protected, or not easily seen.

Usage and Examples

Verb:
- He ensconced himself in the armchair with a good book. (He settled himself very comfortably and securely in the armchair.)
- The cat ensconced itself among the pillows on the sofa. (The cat hid itself snugly among the pillows.)
- The valuable documents were ensconced in the safe. (The documents were placed securely inside the safe.)

Advanced Usage

"to be ensconced": To be in a state of being settled securely.
- For decades, the family has been ensconced in their ancestral home. (The family has been living securely and comfortably in their old family home for a long time.)
"to ensconce oneself in": Often used figuratively to describe establishing oneself firmly in a position, role, or situation.
- After the merger, she quickly ensconced herself in a key leadership position. (She firmly established herself in an important job after the companies joined.)

Variants and Related Words

Ensconced (adj): The state of being settled securely.
- The ensconced diplomat was protected from the unrest. (The diplomat, who was settled in a safe place, was protected.)

Synonyms

Antonyms

Notes on Meaning

The word often implies a sense of comfort, security, and deliberate placement. It is more formal and descriptive than simpler words like "sit" or "put."
While it can be used for objects, it is most commonly used reflexively with people or animals (e.g., "ensconce oneself").

He ensconced himself comfortably in the armchair by the fireplace.

Verb

Từ đồng nghĩa