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Webster 1913 Edition


Enceinte


Enˊceinte′

,
Noun.
[F., fr.
enceindre
to gird about, surround, L.
incingere
;
in
(intens). +
cingere
to gird. See
Cincture
.]
1.
(Fort.)
The line of works which forms the main inclosure of a fortress or place; – called also
body of the place
.
2.
The area or town inclosed by a line of fortification.
The suburbs are not unfrequently larger than their
enceinte
.
S. W. Williams.

Enˊceinte′

,
Adj.
[F., fr. L.
in
not +
cinctus
, p. p. of
cingere
to gird about.]
Pregnant; with child.

Definition 2024


enceinte

enceinte

See also: enceinté

English

Adjective

enceinte (not comparable)

  1. Pregnant.
    • 1909, James Anthony Froude et al., The Reign of Henry the Eighth, vol. I:
      And the time was pressing, for the new queen was enceinte, and further concealment was not to be thought of.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:pregnant

Noun

enceinte (plural enceintes)

  1. An enclosure.
    • 1982, Lawrence Durrell, Constance, Faber & Faber 2004 (Avignon Quintet), p. 824:
      And so across the bridge and into the enceinte of the massive walls, threading their way towards the quarter where the morgue lay.
  2. The line of works forming the main enclosure of a fortress.
  3. The area or town enclosed by a line of fortification.
    • S. W. Williams
      The suburbs are not unfrequently larger than their enceinte.

French

Etymology

From Latin incincta, feminine past participle of incingō. Compare Italian incinta, Spanish and Catalan encinta.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɑ̃.sɛ̃t/

Adjective

enceinte m, f (invariable)

  1. pregnant

Usage notes

The masculine form enceint is occasionally used for species with male pregnancy, such as seahorses.

Noun

enceinte f (plural enceintes)

  1. enclosure, compound
  2. interior
  3. speaker, amplifier

Verb

enceinte f

  1. feminine singular of the past participle of enceindre

Old French

Adjective

enceinte

  1. pregnant