different between imprison vs prisoner

English

Alternative forms

• emprison

Etymology

From Middle English imprisonen, emprisounen, emprisonen, from Old French emprisonner.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?p??z?n/
• Rhymes: -?z?n

Verb

imprison (third-person singular simple present imprisons, present participle imprisoning, simple past and past participle imprisoned)

1. (transitive) To put in or as if in prison; confine.

Usage notes

The term to imprison implies a sentencing has taken place, whereas to jail may imply a temporary holding before a trial, conviction, and sentencing.

Synonyms

• bang up
• gaol, jail
• lock up
• put away
• (Britain, colloquial) send to the Tower
• See also Thesaurus:imprison

Derived terms

• imprisoner
• imprisonment

Translations

Anagrams

• promisin'

English

Etymology

From Middle English prisoner, from Old French prisonier (compare Medieval Latin pris?n?rius), equivalent to prison +? -er.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p??z?n?/, /?p??zn?/
• (Canada, US) IPA^(key): /?p??z?n??/
• Rhymes: -?z?n?(?)

Noun

prisoner (plural prisoners)

1. A person incarcerated in a prison, while on trial or serving a sentence.
2. Any person held against their will.

   • Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile?; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.

Related terms

• imprison
• prison

Translations

Anagrams

• Perrinos, erpornis

Middle English

Etymology 1

Form prisounen +? -er.

Noun

prisoner (plural prisoners)

1. one who imprisons (others); a jailer

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Old French prisonier; equivalent to prisoun +? -er.

Alternative forms

• prisonere, prysonere, prysoner, presoner
• (Cornwall) prisner

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pri?zo?n?r/, /?priz?n?r/

Noun

prisoner (plural prisoners or prisoneres)

1. prisoner
2. captive, prisoner of war

Descendants

• English: prisoner