imprison

verb

USim-PRIZ-uhn/ɪmˈpɹɪzən/

Formsimprisons, imprisoning, imprisoned

1 meaning of imprison

1
verbtransitive
To lock someone up in a jail or other closed place against their will.
Like putting a bird in a cage so it cannot fly away.
The court decided to imprison the thief for two years.
Soldiers imprisoned the captured spy in a small cell.
Similarjail, incarcerate, detain, confine, trap
Oppositefree, release, liberate

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Origin

From Middle English imprisonen, which came from Old French emprisonner. It is made from im- plus prison.