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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