prison

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
  2. noun a prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

prison house

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