intrench (1)

t. [Pref. in- (1), and English trench, s. (q. v.)] 1. To make furrows or hollows in. "His face Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care Sat on his faded cheek." Milton: P. L., i. 601. 2. To surround or inclose with trenches, as in fortification; to fortify with intrenchments; as, to intrench a camp. 3. To lodge within intrenchments; to place in a strong and fortified position. "Intrenched before the town both armies lie: While night, with sable wings, involves the sky." Dryden: Virgil's Æneid , xi. 7,378. *4. To protect or defend in any way. *In-trench (2), v. i. [Pref. in- (1), and English trench, v.] To trench; to encroach on that which belongs to another. (Followed by on or upon .) "We dare not on your privilege intrench , Or ask ye why ye like them? they are French." Dryden: Prol. to Arviragus and Philicia . *In-trench-ant, a. [Pref. in- (2), and English trenchant (q.v.).] Not to be cut; indivisible, invulnerable. "As easy may'st thou the intrenchant air With thy keen sword impre , as makes me bleed." Shakesp.: Macbeth, v 7. In-trench'-ment (1), s. [English intrench (1); -ment.] I. Literally : IMG:content-0011.png:[blocks in formation] "Cæsar forced some of their strongest intrenchments; and then carried the war directly into the territories of Ca ibelan." -Burke : Abridg . Eng. Hist . , bk. i., ch. i. II. Fig .: Any defense or protection. *In-trench-ment (2), s . [English intrench (2); -ment.] The act of or encroaching "That high and serene intrepidity which is the virtue of great commanders." -Macaulay: Hist . Eng , ch. xvi. In-trěp-id-lý, ady . [Eng. intrepid ; -ly.] In an intrepid, fearle , or dauntle manner. "Orlando, determined to pursue his purpose, rushed forward intrepidly with his lifted shield."- Hoote : Orlando Furioso, bk. xix. (Note 9.) *In-tric-a-ble, a. [Lat. intric(o)=to entangle, and Eng. -able .] Entangling, perplexing. In-tric-a-çỹ, s. [Eng. intrica ( te ); -cy.] 1. The quality or state of being intricate or tangled; perplexity, complication, involution. 2. An intricate or perplexing situation; a difficulty or perplexity. "As perplexing that fable with very agreeable plots and Intricacies."- Add is on : Spectator , No. 278. For the difference between intricacy and com plexity , see COMPLEXITY. In-tric-ate, a. [Lat. in tri cat us , pa. par. of intrico =to perplex, to embarra : in- =in, and tricæ hindrances, wiles; Ital. int rica to .] 1. Ord. Lang.: Entangled, involved, complicated, perplexing, obscure; difficult to unravel or under stand. "The sense is intricate , 'tis only clear What vowels and what consonants are there." Dryden: Hind and Panther, ii. 385. 2. Bot .: The same as ENTANGLED (q. v.). *in-tri-cāte, v . t . [INTRICATE, a.] To involve, to complicate, to perplex, to make obscure. "This by-path of cunning doth's embroil, And intricate the pa age of affairs." Daniel: To Lord Henry Howard . In-tric-ate-ly, adv. [Eng. intricate; -ly.] In an intricate manner; with porplexity, complication, or intricacy. "By certain marks or notes intricately knotted."_ War burton: Divine Legation, bk. iv., § 4. In-tric-ate-ne , s . [Eng. intricate ; -ne .] The quality or state of being intricate, complicated, or involved; intricacy.