English
prison
Prison comes from Old French prison, from Latin prehēnsiō ‘an act of seizing’, from prehendō ‘to seize’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find, hold’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰnédtireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*hendō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*praiɣendōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehendō‘to seize’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehēnsiōas prehensiōnem‘an act of seizing’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400prison
- Old Englishc. 450–1150prisūn‘prison’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500prisoun‘prison’
- Englishtodayprison
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰed-‘to find’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*gʰnédtireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*hendō‘to hold’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*praiɣendōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehendō‘to seize’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprehēnsiōas prehensiōnem‘an act of seizing’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400prison
- Old Englishc. 450–1150prisūn‘prison’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500prisoun‘prison’
- Englishtodayprison
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- ‘to find’
yet, guess, prey, predator, apprehend, predation, impregnable, reprieve, beget, prehensile, 32 more
through Proto-Italic *praiɣendō
through Latin prehendō ‘to seize’
comprehensive, surprise, prize, apprentice, comprehend, comprehension, comprise, apprehensive, reprehensible, apprehension, 14 more
Today it means
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.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- / prison