51Թ

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View synonyms for

asylum

[ uh-sahy-luhm ]

noun

  1. (especially formerly) an institution for the maintenance and care of the mentally ill, orphans, or other persons requiring specialized assistance.
  2. an inviolable refuge, as formerly for criminals and debtors; sanctuary:

    He sought asylum in the church.

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. 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.
  4. any secure retreat.


asylum

/ əˈɪə /

noun

  1. 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 )
  2. shelter; refuge
  3. international law refuge afforded to a person whose extradition is sought by a foreign government

    political asylum

  4. obsolete.
    an institution for the shelter, treatment, or confinement of individuals, esp a mental hospital (formerly termed lunatic asylum )
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of asylum1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, from Greek á̄Dz “sanctuary,” from a- a- 6 + ŷDz “right of seizure”
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of asylum1

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

Their lawyers had said ending the program could immediately harm children with scheduled asylum appointments and court hearings.

From

Garcia disputed those charges and appealed for asylum over fears that he would be killed or tortured by gang members targeting him for extortion.

From

He then sought to evade extradition by seeking asylum in Spain, but that effort was unsuccessful, the paper reported.

From

Their families said they no criminal records and in some instances, fled Venezuela and sought asylum to escape the gangs.

From

In March 2023, the government decided a former air base one mile from a small rural village in Essex should be used to house male asylum seekers.

From

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