different between ensconce vs harbour

English

Etymology

From en- +? sconce, “to place in a sconce (“fortification”)”.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n?sk?ns/
• (US) enPR: ?n-skäns', IPA^(key): /?n?sk?ns/
• Rhymes: -?ns, -?ns

Verb

ensconce (third-person singular simple present ensconces, present participle ensconcing, simple past and past participle ensconced)

1. (transitive) To place in a secure environment.
2. (intransitive) To settle comfortably.

   • […] Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw, under a lantern which hung from a beam.

Usage notes

Particularly used in form ensconced, as in “she was ensconced in an armchair.”

Synonyms

• (settle comfortably): cuddle up

Translations

Further reading

• ensconce in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ensconce in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “ensconce”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?h??b?/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /?h??b??/
• Rhymes: -??(?)b?(?)

Noun

harbour (plural harbours)

1. Commonwealth of Nations standard spelling of harbor.

Derived terms

• Rosslare Harbour

Translations

Verb

harbour (third-person singular simple present harbours, present participle harbouring, simple past and past participle harboured)

1. Commonwealth of Nations standard spelling of harbor.

   The docks, which once harboured tall ships, now harbour only petty thieves.

   • The bare suspicion made it treason to harbour the person suspected.

   • 1707, Nicholas Rowe, The Royal Convert

     Nor let your gentle Breast harbor one Thought Of Outrage from the Kin.

References

• “harbour”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.