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Glite Dictionary
intrenchment

intrenchment

1 9.9
A defensive position where soldiers stand behind trenches during war
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈtrɛnʧmənt/
  • Archaic
: trincheras
  • The intrenchment around the perimeter made it difficult for the opposing army to advance.

Examples

  • During World War I, soldiers took cover behind intrenchments to protect themselves from enemy fire.

  • With a great battle? I would no longer bear to drill and practice troops behind intrenchments.

    Academic text (2014)

  • Many intrenchments were built during the battle to secure strategic positions on the battlefield.

Synonyms

fortification
vsintrenchment
12 6.6

A wall or earth mound built to protect a place from attack

refers specifically to a trench-protected defensive position rather than walls
line of defense
vsintrenchment
  • US
7 3.3

A wall or barrier that protects against attack

describes a specific trench-protected fortification rather than a general barrier
entrenchment
vsintrenchment
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A military position protected by trenches

has identical meaning but uses an older initial letter in spelling
defensive structure
vsintrenchment
1 3.9

A building or wall built to protect a place from attack

is specifically a trench-protected defensive position used in warfare
fieldwork
vsintrenchment
  • Archaic
1 7.0

Temporary structures that soldiers make to protect themselves in battle

refers to a trench-protected position that is more permanent than temporary works

Antonyms

vulnerability
147 5.1

A state of being easily harmed physically or emotionally

How Fortified

fortress
113 4.4
citadel
19 7.7
fort
257 2.3
intrenchment
  • Archaic
1 9.9
trench
128 3.8

Surface Forms

intrenchment singular
intrenchments plural

Morphology

intrenchment = intrench (semi-transparent) = in + trench + ment

The noun is a regular result or action formation from the verb 'intrench' with '-ment'.

Etymology

Intrenchment comes from in- meaning 'in' and trench meaning 'ditch', the same simple word you know from 'trenches' in war. So an intrenchment is a place made by digging ditches to protect soldiers or a position during battle.