entrench

Verb

entrench (third-person singular simple present entrenches, present participle entrenching, simple past and past participle entrenched)

1. (ambitransitive, literally) To cut in; to furrow; to make trenches in or upon.
   • It was this very sword entrenched it.c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
   • His face
     Deep scars of thunder had entrenched.1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished...
   1. (ambitransitive, literally) To dig or excavate a trench; to trench.
   2. (ambitransitive, literally) To surround or provide with a trench, especially for defense; to dig in.
      • The army entrenched its camp, or entrenched itself.
      • To the south were the Varden and the men of Surda, entrenched behind multiple layers of defense, where they displayed a fine panoply of woven standards, ranks of proud tents, and the picketed horses of King Orrin's cavalry.2005, Christopher Paolini, “The Burning Plains”, in Eldest, page 581
2. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To become completely absorbed in and fully accept one's beliefs, even in the face of evidence against it and refusing to be reasoned with.
3. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To establish a substantial position in business, politics, etc.
   • Senator Cornpone was able to entrench by spending millions on each campaign.
   • Given these entrenched ideological assumptions about the colonial order, it is no wonder that the state and those groups with an interest in the status quo viewed with suspicion and hostility any challenges to the fixed and "natural" boundaries between different sorts of people.2009, Andrew B. Fisher, Matthew O'Hara, “Forward”, in Andrew B. Fisher, Matthew O'Hara, editors, Imperial Subjects: Race and Identity in Colonial Latin America, page 4

   Synonyms:

   consolidate

4. (ambitransitive, figuratively) To invade; to encroach; to infringe or trespass; to enter on, and take possession of, that which belongs to another; usually followed by on or upon.