From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
prison
n 1: a correctional institution where persons are confined while
on trial or for punishment [syn: prison house]
2: a prisonlike situation; a place of seeming confinement [syn:
prison house]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Prison \Pris"on\ (?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. prehensio, prensio, a
seizing, arresting, fr. prehendre, prendere, to lay hold of,
to seize. See Prehensile, and cf. Prize, n.,
Misprision.]
1. A place where persons are confined, or restrained of
personal liberty; hence, a place or state o? confinement,
restraint, or safe custody.
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Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy
name. --Ps. cxlii.
7.
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The tyrant Aeolus, . . .
With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds,
And sounding tempests in dark prisons binds.
--Dryden.
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2. Specifically, a building for the safe custody or
confinement of criminals and others committed by lawful
authority.
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Prison bars, or Prison base. See Base, n., 24.
Prison breach. (Law) See Note under 3d Escape, n., 4.
Prison house, a prison. --Shak.
Prison ship (Naut.), a ship fitted up for the confinement
of prisoners.
Prison van, a carriage in which prisoners are conveyed to
and from prison.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Prison \Pris"on\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prisoned; p. pr. & vb.
n. Prisoning.]
1. To imprison; to shut up in, or as in, a prison; to
confine; to restrain from liberty.
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The prisoned eagle dies for rage. --Sir W.
Scott.
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His true respect will prison false desire. --Shak.
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2. To bind (together); to enchain. [Obs.]
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Sir William Crispyn with the duke was led
Together prisoned. --Robert of
Brunne.
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