ensconce
verb

- to make yourself very comfortable or safe in a place or position

The Cambridge Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "ensconce”, from the late 16th century, is derived from the Middle English word sconce, which referred to a small fort or protective shelter. The prefix en- means "in" or "within”, so "ensconce" literally means to place or settle someone or something securely inside a safe or hidden spot.

Over time, the meaning of "ensconce" evolved to mean settling or establishing someone comfortably or securely, often in a way that suggests privacy or protection.

Ensconce is often written in conjunction with the word “safely”, such as: "The royal baby has finally arrived, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are “safely ensconced” in Bucklebury with little Prince Georgie". Although this usage is quite common, linguistically speaking it is a redundant phrase since ensconced means to be "safely and/or comfortably settled into a place.

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EXAMPLES OF REPETITIVE REPETITION:

- Let’s collaborate together = collaborating apart would be quite the challenge, wouldn't it?

- It’s the exact same = being inexactly the same is a paradox waiting to happen.

- Accept this free gift = as opposed to those pesky gifts you have to pay for, right?

- It was an unexpected surprise = if we had expected it, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?

- Let me repeat again = so just once wasn't enough for us to get the message?

- I’ll revert back to you = as opposed to reverting forward into the future?

- PIN number = The "N" already stands for "number”, so you're just saying "Personal Identification Number number”!

- ATM machine = Ah yes, the Automated Teller Machine machine, for when you need money money!

These phrases are examples of “pleonasms”, where additional words are used to express a meaning that is already implied. They're often used for emphasis but can be considered redundant in formal writing. However, in everyday speech, many of these phrases have become so common that they're hardly noticed, and—hand on heart—who of us haven’t been guilty of them?

Helga & Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

anchored, armoured, at home, barricaded, bedded down, burrowed in, buttressed, cemented, cloaked, cocooned, comfortable as a bug in a rug, comfortably settled, cooped up, covered, cozy, cuddled up, curled up, cushioned, defended, dug in, ENSCONCED, ensconced amidst friends (in luxury), entrenched, established, firmly placed (planted), folded away, fortified, grounded, guarded, harboured, hidden away, holed up, huddled, installed, lodged, nested, nestled, nicely tucked away, parked, protected, roosted, rooted, safe and sound, safely ensconced, screened, secluded, secured, settled (in), sheltered, shielded, shrouded, snug as a bug, snuggled (up), snugly ensconced, stashed away, stationed, stowed (away), stuffed away, submerged, tucked away (in), under wraps, veiled, walled, well hidden (seated), well-placed, wrapped up

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

"We'll be in touch again as soon as we're safely ENSCONCED in our new flat."

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