Prison Definition
prĭzən
prisons
noun
prisons
A place where persons are confined.
Webster's New World
A building, usually with cells, where convicted criminals, esp. those serving longer sentences, are confined.
Webster's New World
A state of imprisonment or captivity.
Years spent in prison.
American Heritage
Such a place for holding accused persons who are awaiting, or on, trial.
Webster's New World
The state or condition of being confined, restricted, or limited in any way.
In the prison of his own desires.
Webster's New World
verb
To confine in or as if in a prison; imprison.
American Heritage
Webster's New World
To imprison.
Wiktionary
Origin of Prison
-
Middle English from Old French alteration (influenced by Old French pris taken) of Latin prēnsiō prēnsiōn- a seizing from prehēnsiō from prehēnsus past participle of prehendere to seize ghend- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Old French prison, from Latin prehensiōnem, accusative singular of prehensiō, from the verb prehendō.
From Wiktionary
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