Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Is it possible that "ensconce," "sconce," and "abscond" could be cognates?

Is it possible that "ensconce," "sconce," and "abscond" could be cognates?

It seems impossible that "sconce" and "ensconce" are not cognate. However,
according to The Etymological Dictionary:
sconce (n.) Look up sconce at Dictionary.com late 14c., "candlestick with
a screen," a shortening of Old French esconse "lantern, hiding place,"
from Medieval Latin sconsa, from Latin absconsa, fem. past participle of
abscondere "to hide" (see abscond). Meaning "metal bracket-candlestick
fastened to a wall" is recorded from mid-15c. ensconce (v.) Look up
ensconce at Dictionary.com 1580s, "to cover with a fort," from en- (1)
"make, put in" + sconce "small fortification, shelter," perhaps via
French, probably from Dutch schans "earthwork" (cf. Middle High German
schanze "bundle of sticks"), of uncertain origin. Related: Ensconced.

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