View synonyms for asylum

asylum

[ uh-sahy-luhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

(especially formerly) an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance.
an inviolable refuge, as formerly for criminals and debtors; sanctuary:
He sought asylum in the church.
Synonyms: retreat, shelter, haven
International Law.
1. a refuge granted an alien by a sovereign state on its own territory.
2. a temporary refuge granted political offenders, especially in a foreign embassy.
any secure retreat.

asylum

/ əˈsaɪləm /

a safe or inviolable place of refuge, esp as formerly offered by the Christian Church to criminals, outlaws, etc; sanctuary (often in the phrase give asylum to )
shelter; refuge
international law refuge afforded to a person whose extradition is sought by a foreign government
political asylum
obsolete.
an institution for the shelter, treatment, or confinement of individuals, esp a mental hospital (formerly termed lunatic asylum )

Origin of asylum¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, from Greek ásȳlon “sanctuary,” from a- a- ⁶ + sŷlon “right of seizure”

Origin of asylum¹

C15: via Latin from Greek asulon refuge, from asulos that may not be seized, from a- ¹+ sulon right of seizure

Shakur was on the run for five years after her prison break before managing to reach Cuba, where she was granted asylum in 1984.

In 1996, Bourjerdi was granted political asylum and went to Australia as a refugee.

This is because the only location that debate could take place would be in an asylum.

The report explains that there are two stages asylum-seekers must go through when apprehended at the border.

It was unpleasant and discombobulating: a simulation of hostage-taking, mental asylum and demented dreamscape all rolled into one.

Foreign families of neutral nationality sought more tranquil asylum far beyond the suburbs or on ships lying in the harbour.

Lofty trees cast their gigantic shadows along the ground, and promised a secure asylum to peaceful meditation.

In this city he encountered his former ranking officer, shorn of all his possessions, and just emerging from an insane asylum.

If you were in San Francisco you might find some of the attendants in the asylum, who could give you the information you desire.

He was healed at Heilsberg, then locked up in an insane asylum at Stuttgart.

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