enfermer

to lock up, to shut in

verb ahn-fehr-MEH Less Common

Usage Note

Enfermer means to lock someone or something inside: enfermer un prisonnier (to lock up a prisoner), enfermer le chat (to shut the cat in). The reflexive s'enfermer means 'to shut oneself in' or, figuratively, 'to withdraw into oneself' (s'enfermer dans le silence). The noun is l'enfermement (confinement).

Examples

"Il s'enferme dans sa chambre pour travailler."

Natural Translation

He shuts himself in his room to work.

Literal Translation

He oneself-encloses in his room to work.

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