wrongfully-detained
|wrong-ful-ly-de-tained|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈrɔŋfəli dɪˈteɪnd/
🇬🇧
/ˈrɒŋfəli dɪˈteɪnd/
unjust custody
Etymology
Etymology Information
'wrongfully-detained' originates from the combination of 'wrongfully,' meaning 'in a manner that is unjust or unfair,' and 'detained,' meaning 'held in custody.'
Historical Evolution
'Wrongfully' comes from Old English 'wrang,' meaning 'injustice,' and 'detained' from Latin 'detinere,' meaning 'to hold back.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'detained' meant 'to hold back,' but over time it evolved to mean 'held in custody,' and 'wrongfully' added the nuance of injustice.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Last updated: 2025/05/16 11:18