Enshielding

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of protecting or covering something to shield it from harm or damage ; the process of providing a barrier or defense against threats ; the condition of being enclosed for safety and security
2. The action of placing a guard or cover over an object or area to prevent injury or loss ; the state of creating a protective layer to block out danger ; the function of wrapping or enclosing to preserve and defend
3. The procedure of surrounding or shielding an item to avert exposure or risk ; the activity involving securing or hiding from adverse effects ; the result achieved by employing measures that ensure safety through coverage

Etymology: "Enshielding" is the present participle and gerund of "enshield," a verb built from the prefix "en-" and the noun "shield." The prefix "en-" comes from Old French and Latin and means "in" or "into," or, when attached to a noun, "to put into or onto," so "enshield" means to put something inside or under a shield, that is, to cover something so it is protected. The base "shield" is an older word with a long pedigree in English, descending from Old English "scield," which meant a broad piece of wood or leather held to ward off blows. Over the centuries, the physical object gave rise to a whole family of figurative senses, so that "shield" came to mean any protection, whether a person, a principle, or a barrier against harm. "Enshield," which turns that protective sense into an action, follows the same pattern as other en- verbs such as "enclose" or "enwrap," in which the prefix turns a noun into a verb of covering or enveloping.

Synonyms: shielding, protecting, covering, sheltering

Antonyms: exposing, unshielding