Asylum
/əˈsaɪ.ləm/noun
A place of refuge and protection, or a facility for the care of people with mental illness.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek asylos, meaning ‘not subject to seizure,’ and was tied to temples and sanctuaries where fugitives could claim divine protection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*seu-
“to take, seize”
Ancient Greek
Greek
asylos
“not liable to seizure; inviolable”
Latin
Latin
asylum
“sanctuary, refuge”
Late Middle English
English
asylum
“a sanctuary or place of refuge”
Modern English
English
asylum
“a place of refuge, especially for those seeking protection or care”