Prison
|priz-on|
/ˈprɪzən/
(prison)
confinement
Etymology
'prison' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'prisun', where 'pris-' (from Latin 'prehendere') meant 'to seize' and '-un' was a noun-forming suffix.
'prison' changed from Old French 'prisun' into Middle English 'prisoun' and eventually became the modern English word 'prison'.
Initially it meant 'the act of taking or capture', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a place of confinement'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a building or complex where people are legally held as punishment for crimes or while awaiting trial.
He was sent to prison for five years.
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Noun 2
a place for short-term detention, often used interchangeably with 'jail' though 'prison' usually implies longer-term imprisonment.
After the arrest he spent two nights in prison before seeing a judge.
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Noun 3
a figurative state of confinement or restriction (e.g., 'a prison of poverty').
He felt trapped in a prison of debt.
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Verb 1
to confine someone in a prison; to imprison.
The regime imprisoned thousands of political opponents.
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Last updated: 2025/09/02 06:22