enclave
UK[ˈɒŋkleɪv]US[ˈɑːnkleɪv]
n
A portion of territory entirely surrounded by the territory of another state.
n
A place or group that is culturally, socially, or ethnically distinct from its surroundings.
Morpheme Breakdown
en
clave
en
in
clave
to close
Etymology
The word 'enclave' entered English in the 19th century from the French noun 'enclave,' itself derived from the verb 'enclaver,' meaning "to enclose." This French verb was formed from the Latin prefix 'in-' (in) and the root 'clavis' (key). The conceptual link is that a key locks something in or secures it. Thus, an enclave is figuratively a place "locked in" or enclosed by foreign territory. The term's meaning evolved from a purely geographical and political concept to also describe any distinct group or area isolated within a larger, different context.
Analysis
Structure: en (in) + clave (to close)
'en-' is a prefix of Latin origin (via French), meaning "in, into, within." '-clave' is from the Latin root 'clavis,' meaning "key," and by extension, something that closes or locks.
Examples
The Vatican City is an independent enclave within the city of Rome.
The neighborhood became a peaceful ethnic enclave, preserving its unique traditions.
The research facility was an intellectual enclave, largely separate from the surrounding industrial town.