Category:Prison

Pris"on, n. Etym: [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 of imprisonment. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name. Psalm 142. 7. The tyrant æolus,. . . With power imperial, curbs the struggling winds, and sounding tempests in dark prisons binds. Dryden.

2. Specifically, a building for the safe custody or confinement of criminals and others committed by lawful authority. 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.

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. The prisoned eagle dies for rage. Sir w. Scott. His true respect will prison false desire. Shak.

2. To bind (together); to enchain. [obs.] Sir William Crispyn with the Duke of Brunne were led together prisoned. Robert.

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---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Prison - The first occasion on which we read of a prison is in the history of Joseph in Egypt. Then Potiphar, "Joseph's master, took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound" (Genesis 39:20). The Heb. word here used ( sohar ) means properly a round tower or fortress. It seems to have been a part of Potiphar's house, a place in which state prisoners were kept. The Mosaic law made no provision for imprisonment as a punishment. In the wilderness two persons were "put in ward" (Leviticus 24:12; Numbers 15:34), but it was only till the mind of God concerning them should be ascertained. Prisons and prisoners are mentioned in the book of Psalms (Psalms 69:33; Psalms 79:11; Psalms 142:7). Samson was confined in a Philistine prison (Judges 16:21, Judges 16:25). In the subsequent history of Israel frequent references are made to prisons (1 Kings 22:27; 2 Kings 17:4; 2 Kings 25:27, 2 Kings 25:29; 2 Chronicles 16:10; Isaiah 42:7; Jeremiah 32:2). Prisons seem to have been common in New Testament times (Matthew 11:2; Matthew 25:36, Matthew 25:43). The apostles were put into the "common prison" at the instance of the Jewish council (Acts 5:18, Acts 5:23; Acts 8:3); and at Philippi Paul and Silas were thrust into the "inner prison" (Acts 16:24; compare Acts 4:3; Acts 12:4, Acts 12:5).