PRISON


Meaning of PRISON in English

I. ˈpri-z ə n noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin prehension-, prehensio act of seizing, from prehendere to seize — more at get

Date: 12th century

1. : a state of confinement or captivity

2. : a place of confinement especially for lawbreakers ; specifically : an institution (as one under state jurisdiction) for confinement of persons convicted of serious crimes — compare jail

II. transitive verb

Date: 14th century

: imprison , confine

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.