Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- To incise; cut down or deepen the valley of (a stream).
- To make a trench or furrow in; furrow; cut.
- To surround as with a trench or ditch.
- To fortify with a trench or ditch and parapet; strengthen or protect by walls of defense: as, to
intrench a camp or an army. - Hence To fortify or defend by any protecting agency; surround with or guard by anything that affords additional security against attack.
- To invade; encroach: with on or upon.
- Synonyms Encroach upon, Infringe upon, etc. See trespass, v.i.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- intransitive verb To invade; to encroach; to infringe or trespass; to enter on, and take possession of, that which belongs to another; -- usually followed by
on orupon . - transitive verb To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon.
- transitive verb To surround with a trench or with intrenchments, as in fortification; to fortify with a ditch and parapet.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb To
invade ; toencroach ; toinfringe ortrespass ; to enter on, and take possession of, that which belongs to another; usually followed by on or upon.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb fix firmly or securely
Etymologies
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Examples
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When taxes go so far as to intrench on the Subsistence of the People, they become burdensome and oppressive.
Robert Morris Charles Rappleye 2010
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Bragg's intrenchments in front of Stone River were very strong, and there seems no reason why he should not have used his plain advantage as explained, but instead he allowed us to gain time, intrench, and recover a confidence that at first was badly shaken.
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When taxes go so far as to intrench on the Subsistence of the People, they become burdensome and oppressive.
Robert Morris Charles Rappleye 2010
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I retired this night not knowing but that I would have to intrench my position, and bring up tents for the men or build huts under the cover of the hills.
Rambles at starchamber.com » Blog Archive » Ulysses S. Grant invents American prose 2008
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Here, therefore, is great danger, lest one of these jurisdictions intrench upon the other, and discord arise between the keeper of the public peace and the overseers of souls.
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Shortly afterward General Wheeler sent us orders to intrench.
The Rough Riders Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919 1992
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He had no better implement with which to intrench himself in the land than a clam - shell.
Walking 1969
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Where these duties of observing sacrifices do sensibly intrench upon duties of mercy, God doth not require it; which hath a great regard even unto our outward occasions.
Sacramental Discourses 1616-1683 1968
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Take care that the time designed and allotted does neither too much intrench upon the occasions of the outward man, nor upon the weakness of the inward man.
Sacramental Discourses 1616-1683 1968
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As Jacob told Esau, if the cattle were driven beyond their pace they would die; so we find by experience, that though with strong resolutions we may engage unto duties in such a manner as may intrench upon these outward occasions or those weaknesses, they will return, and be too hard for us, and instead of getting ground, they will drive us off from ours: so that there is prudence to be required therein.
Sacramental Discourses 1616-1683 1968
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