prison

Definition

A place or institution where people are held against their will, in the US especially for long-term confinement, as of those convicted of serious crimes or otherwise considered undesirable by the government.

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

• "The cold stone walls of the prison had stood for over a century."
• "Prison was a harrowing experience for him."
• "The academy was a prison for many of its students because of its strict teachers."