asylum English · revision 1932

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈsaɪləm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|asylum|t=sanctuary]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ἄσυλον|tr=ásylon|t=refuge]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) noun use of the neuter of ''ásylos'' “inviolable, safe from violence”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[af|grc|ἀ-|σύλη|tr1=a-|tr2=sýlē|t1=without|t2=right of seizure]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Middle English ''asilum'' replaced an earlier ''asile'' (late 14th century), taken from Old French.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A sanctuary or inviolable refuge for criminals and debtors, from which they could not be forcibly removed (c. 1430, or probably before 1439 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the refuge for fugitives the meaning widened to any secure place of shelter (1642)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and to the abstract idea of protection or refuge (1712 in Etymonline, 1725 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In the 1770s the word came to mean a benevolent institution sheltering some class of unfortunate people,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) originally female orphans,^(Etymonline) and later especially the mentally ill.^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) The international-law sense of protection granted by a state to a political refugee is the main modern use.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1384 – ''asile'', from Old French.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1430 – a sanctuary for criminals and debtors.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1642 – any secure place of refuge.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1712 – protection, refuge (Etymonline, with 1725 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1773 – a benevolent institution, first for orphans (Etymonline, with 1776 in the OED and Barnhart).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Protection and immunity from [[extradition]] granted by a government to a political [[refugee]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A place offering protection and safety; a [[shelter]] or [[haven]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(historical)'' An inviolable place of refuge such as a church, formerly giving shelter to criminals and debtors; a [[sanctuary]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(chiefly formerly)'' An institution for the care of people who need special help, especially people with a [[mental illness]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[political asylum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sanctuary]]

+ * [[asylee]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}