Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ensconce” come from?

ensconce (English) comes from English sconce, from Middle English sconce, from Old French esconse, from Latin absconsus, from Latin abscondō, from Latin condō, from Latin cōn-, from Latin cum — resin, gum; to say, speak.

ensconce (English): To place in a secure environment; To settle...

Definitions

  1. To place in a secure environment; To settle...

Ancestry of “ensconce”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsconceA fixture for a light; A head or a skull; A poll...
2Middle Englishsconce—
3Old Frenchesconse—
4Latinabsconsushidden, secret, concealed
5Latinabscondō—
6Latincondō—
7Latincōn-—
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt—
14Germankitt—
15Old High Germankuti—
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak

Words derived from “ensconce”

  • ensconcement
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet- →