entrench
verbUK /ɪnˈtɹɛnt͡ʃ/ · CA, US /ɛnˈtɹɛnt͡ʃ/
Etymology From en- + trench. First attested in the 1550s.
Ambitransitive, Literally To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon.
- It was this very sword entrenched it.c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
- His face Deep scars of thunder had entrenched.1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Archaeology, Business, Construction, History, Human sciences, Manufacturing, Sciences Ambitransitive, Literally To dig or excavate a trench; to trench.
Government, Military, Politics, War Ambitransitive, Literally To surround or provide with a trench, especially for defense; to dig in.
- The army entrenched its camp, or entrenched itself.
- To the south were the Varden and the men of Surda, entrenched behind multiple layers of defense, where they displayed a fine panoply of woven standards, ranks of proud tents, and the picketed horses of King Orrin's cavalry.2005, Christopher Paolini, “The Burning Plains”, in Eldest, page 581:
Ambitransitive, Figuratively To become completely absorbed in and fully accept one's beliefs, even in the face of evidence against it and refusing to be reasoned with.
Ambitransitive, Figuratively To establish a substantial position in business, politics, etc.
- Senator Cornpone was able to entrench by spending millions on each campaign.
- Given these entrenched ideological assumptions about the colonial order, it is no wonder that the state and those groups with an interest in the status quo viewed with suspicion and hostility any challenges to the fixed and "natural" boundaries between different sorts of people.2009, Andrew B. Fisher, Matthew O'Hara, “Forward”, in Andrew B. Fisher, Matthew O'Hara, editors, Imperial Subjects: Race and Identity in Colonial Latin America, page 4:
1 more example
- For London to have its own exclusive immigration policy would exacerbate the sense that immigration benefits only certain groups and disadvantages the rest. It would entrench the gap between London and the rest of the nation. And it would widen the breach between the public and the elite that has helped fuel anti-immigrant hostility.2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, “London Is Special, but Not That Special”, in New York Times, retrieved 28 Sep 2013:
Ambitransitive, Figuratively To invade; to encroach; to infringe or trespass; to enter on, and take possession of, that which belongs to another; usually followed by on or upon.
- Synonyms
- trench, dig in, consolidate
- Derived terms
- entrencher, entrenchment, nonentrenched, unentrenched