Etymology
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enshrine (v.)

in early use also inshrine, "enclose in or as in a shrine; deposit for safe-keeping," 1580s, from en- (1) "make, put in" + shrine (n.). Related: Enshrined; enshrining.

Entries linking to enshrine

en- (1)
word-forming element meaning "in; into," from French and Old French en-, from Latin in- "in, into" (from PIE root *en "in"). Typically assimilated before -p-, -b-, -m-, -l-, and -r-. Latin in- became en- in French, Spanish, Portuguese, but remained in- in Italian.

Also used with native and imported elements to form verbs from nouns and adjectives, with a sense "put in or on" (encircle), also "cause to be, make into" (endear), and used as an intensive (enclose). Spelling variants in French that were brought over into Middle English account for parallels such as ensure/insure, and most en- words in English had at one time or another a variant in in-, and vice versa.
shrine (n.)

Old English scrin "ark (of the covenant); chest, coffer; case for relics," from Latin scrinium "case or box for keeping papers," of unknown origin. From late 14c. as "a tomb of a saint" (usually elaborate and large). A widespread word, compare Dutch schrijn, German Schrein, French écrin, Russian skrynya, Lithuanian skrinė.

updated on September 12, 2021

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Definitions of enshrine from WordNet

enshrine (v.)
enclose in a shrine;
the saint's bones were enshrined in the cathedral
Synonyms: shrine
enshrine (v.)
hold sacred;
Synonyms: saint
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near enshrine

enroll

enrollment

ensample

ensconce

ensemble

enshrine

enshroud

ensign

ensilage

enslave

enslavement

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper