I. pəˈrōl noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, word of honor, word, speech, from Old French, from Late Latin parabola speech, parable — more at parable
1. : word of honor : plighted faith ; especially : the promise of a prisoner of war upon his faith and honor to fulfill stated conditions (as to return to custody or not to bear arms against his captors) in consideration of special privileges, usually release from captivity
proposed that officers and men who gave their paroles not to take up arms against the United States be allowed to return to their homes — Virginius Dabney
2. : the state or period of freedom resulting from a parole
required to report during his parole
a Federal prisoner … may be released on parole after serving one third of such term — U.S. Code
3. : a watchword given only to officers of the guard and of the day — distinguished from countersign
4.
a. : a conditional and revocable release of a prisoner serving an indeterminate or unexpired sentence in a penal or correctional institution — compare probation
b. : a release under similar conditions of one detained or kept in custody ; specifically : a release given a patient in a mental hospital enabling him to visit freely and unattended various designated areas on the hospital grounds or beyond its limits
5. : the release of a defendant in a criminal case on his own recognizance or in the custody of his attorney during the period between indictment and trial
6. : a linguistic act : linguistic behavior
parole is from the linguist's point of view the simple raw material for scientific investigation — H.G.Lunt
— contrasted with langue
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to release on parole
the … friend was paroled from the hospital in the custody of her sister — Ruth & Edward Brecher
when a prisoner is paroled — C.V.Oje
III. adjective
: of or relating to parole or to persons on parole
parole officer
parole laws
parole casework