prison
/ˈprɪz.ən/
noun
Origin
Latin
prensio — a seizing, a taking
Overview
Meaning Now
- A building or institution in which people are legally held as a punishment for a crime or while awaiting trial.
Literal older meaning
a taking or seizing
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
prisun
Earliest period
12th century
Journey
The term derives from the legal concept of 'seizing' or taking someone into custody. In medieval contexts, a 'prison' was often a location where individuals were held pending trial or ransom, rather than a place for long-term rehabilitation.
Evolution
- Latin
prensio
“a seizing”
- Vulgar Latin
prisonem
“custody, capture”
- Old French
prisun
“captivity, prison”
- Middle English
prisoun
“a place of confinement”
Connections
Word parts
pris
root
to take, to seize
on
suffix
noun-forming suffix
Related across languages
French
prison
Spanish
prisión
prison
Explore next
Related to prison
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.