encage

Encage is a English verb meaning to place in a cage or to enclose within a cage-like structure. It is transitive, used to indicate the deliberate act of confining a person or animal inside a cage or similar enclosure. The term emphasizes the act of placing something within a protective or restraining cage, rather than simply the existence of a cage itself.

Etymology and usage notes: Encage is formed from the prefix en- meaning “to cause to be” combined with cage. The root word cage derives from Old French cage, which in turn traces back to Latin cavea meaning a hollow or cavity used for confinement. In modern English, encage is relatively uncommon compared with the more general verb cage, which is widely used for both the act of confining and the noun meaning the enclosure. Encage is more likely to appear in formal, archaic, or descriptive writing and is sometimes encountered in discussions of animal care, transport, or historical texts.

Examples: The keeper encaged the parrot to prevent escape. The researcher encaged the specimen in a perforated metal cage for observation.

Cultural and linguistic notes: Because encage is not as frequently used as cage, writers may choose simpler or more precise terms depending on context, such as confine, restrain, or enclose. Related terms include cage, enclosure, and confinement.

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