To settle comfortably and securely in a place; to hide or establish firmly, often in a protected position.
From en- + sconce (a fortified gun position or the verb meaning to fortify). Sconce comes from Dutch schans or similar Germanic roots meaning a small fort or shelter. The verb means to tuck away or fortify someone in a safe place.
This word perfectly captures the feeling of burrowing into safety—'ensconced in the armchair'—and it originated from military vocabulary about fortified positions. It's like the word itself wraps you up in comfort and security, which is why it still feels so cozy today.
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