prison
noun
- place in which people legally are physically confined and usually deprived of a range of personal freedoms
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɪzn̩/ / [pʰɹ̠̊ɪzn̩]
noun
Etymology: From Middle English prisoun, prison, from Old English prisūn, a borrowing from Old French prison, from Latin prehensiōnem, accusative singular of prehensiō, from the verb prehendō. Doublet of prehension.
- A place or institution where people are held against their will, in the US especially for long-term confinement, as of those convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.
“The cold stone walls of the prison had stood for over a century.”
- Confinement in prison.
“Prison was a harrowing experience for him.”
- Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.
“The academy was a prison for many of its students because of its strict teachers.”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English prisoun, prison, from Old English prisūn, a borrowing from Old French prison, from Latin prehensiōnem, accusative singular of prehensiō, from the verb prehendō. Doublet of prehension.
- To imprison.