prison
/ˈpɹɪzn̩/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.80 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
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.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Any restrictive environment, such as a harsh academy or home.
Colloquial; Countable; Uncountable
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."
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *gʰed-, prisoun, prisūn, prison, prehensiōnem