prison

Meanings

Noun

• A place or institution of confinement, especially of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.
• Confinement in prison.
• Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.

Verb

• To imprison.

Origin

• From Middle English prisoun, prison, a borrowing from Old French prison, from Latin prehensiōnem, accusative singular of prehensiō, from the verb prehendō. prehension.