Etymology: < French †absconce (13th cent. in Old French; rare after mid 17th cent.) or its etymon post-classical Latin absconsa covered lantern (from 11th cent. in British and continental sources), use as noun of feminine past participle of classical Latin abscondere abscond v. Compare earlier sconce n.¹ N.E.D. (1884) gives the pronunciation as (æ̆bskǫ·ns) /æbˈskɒns/.

Etymology: < Middle French absconser to hide, conceal (14th cent.; French †absconser , apparently not attested after late 17th cent.), alteration of abscondre abscond v. after classical Latin absconsus (2nd cent. a.d.), alternative past participle (for absconditus ) of abscondere abscond v.

Etymology: Humorous alteration of abscond v., after ensconce v. Compare earlier absconce v.¹