enmesh
UK[ɪnˈmɛʃ]US[ɪnˈmɛʃ]
v
to catch or entangle in, or as if in, the meshes of a net
v
to involve in a complicated or compromising situation from which it is difficult to disengage
Morpheme Breakdown
en
mesh
en
cause to be
mesh
net
Etymology
the word 'enmesh' is a compound verb formed in english from the prefix 'en-' and the noun 'mesh'. the prefix 'en-', derived from latin 'in-', carries the causative sense of "to put into" or "to cause to be in a state." the core noun 'mesh' originates from old english 'masc', referring to the open spaces or net-like structure of a net. the literal combination, meaning "to put into a net," perfectly illustrates the word's evolution. from this concrete image of physical entanglement, the meaning broadened metaphorically to describe becoming intricately and often problematically involved in complex situations, much like a creature caught in a web.
Analysis
Structure: en (cause to be) + mesh (net)
en- (from latin in-, meaning "in, into, cause to be"), mesh (from middle english mesche, from old english masc, meaning "net")
Examples
the bird became enmeshed in the fisherman's net.
he was enmeshed in a web of lies from which he could not escape.
the two companies are so enmeshed financially that separating them will be difficult.