asylum

English

/əˈsaɪləm/

noun
Definitions
  • A place of safety.
  • The protection, physical and legal, afforded by such a place.
  • (dated) A place of protection or restraint for one or more classes of the disadvantaged, especially the mentally ill.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin asylum derived from Ancient Greek ἄσυλον (sanctuary).

Origin

Ancient Greek

ἄσυλον

Gloss

sanctuary

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms