prisoun

Middle English

Alternative forms

• prison, prisun, prisen, pryson, prisone

Etymology

From late Anglo-Norman prisoun, spelt prisun in early Anglo-Norman. Ultimately from Latin prehensiō, prehensiōnem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /priˈzuːn/, /ˈprizɔn/, /ˈprizən/

Noun

prisoun (plural prisouns or prisounes)

1. prison, jail, dungeon (place where captives are held)
2. imprisonment, captivity
3. custody, guardianship
4. hell, eternal damnation
5. captive, prisoner

Synonyms

• gaiol

Derived terms

• prisoner

Descendants

• English: prison
• Scots: preeson

References

• “prisǒun, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-03-27.

Old French

Noun

prisoun oblique singular, f (oblique plural prisouns, nominative singular prisoun, nominative plural prisouns)

1. Alternative form of prison
   • William fuist aresté et a prisoun del Countour amesné

     William was arrested and taken to the prison of the sheriff