entrench
UK[ɪnˈtrentʃ]US[ɪnˈtrentʃ]
v
To establish an attitude, habit, or belief so firmly that change is very difficult or unlikely.
v
To dig a trench, especially for defensive purposes.
Morpheme Breakdown
en
trench
en
cause to be
trench
ditch
Etymology
The word "entrench" is a compound formed from the prefix "en-" and the noun "trench." It entered English in the late 16th century, initially with the literal military meaning "to dig a trench or ditches for defense." The prefix "en-" (from Latin in-) imparts the sense of "putting into" a state or condition. Over time, the word's meaning broadened metaphorically. Just as a physical trench creates a fixed, defensive position, the verb "entrench" came to describe the process of establishing ideas, rights, or practices so firmly that they become difficult to remove or change, effectively surrounding them with figurative defenses.
Analysis
Structure: en (cause to be) + trench (ditch)
- en: A prefix of French and Latin origin, meaning "to put into, to cause to be."
- trench: A noun of Old French origin (from trencher, "to cut"), referring to a long, narrow ditch.
Examples
The new law will entrench the rights of the individual.
The soldiers worked through the night to entrench their position before the enemy attack.
Outdated social customs can become deeply entrenched in a culture.