Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN-TRENCH', v.t. [in and Fr. trancher, to cut. See Trench.]

1. To dig or cut a trench around a place, as in fortification; to fortify with a ditch and parapet. The army intrenched their camp, or they were intrenched.
2. To furrow; to make hollows in. His face / Deep scars of thunder had intrenched. Milton. To intrench on, literally, to cut into; hence, to invade; to encroach; to enter on and take possession of that which belongs to another. In the contest for power, the king was charged with intrenching on the rights of the nobles, and the nobles were accused of intrenching on the prerogatives of the crown.