prisoner

Everyday

1. A person who is kept in prison as a punishment for a crime. tree →
2. A person who is caught and kept somewhere and is not allowed to leave (a prisoner of war). tree →
3. Someone who feels trapped by something (a prisoner of fear). tree →

In the lessons

Used in history (prisoners of war, castles and dungeons), stories and news about crime. Tells the reader someone has lost their freedom. Phrases: «take someone prisoner», «hold prisoner», «prisoner of war», «escaped prisoner».

Examples

• The prisoner was locked in a cell. tree →
• The knight was taken prisoner. tree →
• Two prisoners escaped from the jail. tree →
• The pirates held the captain prisoner on their ship. tree →
• Prisoners of war were sent home at the end of the war. tree →
• She felt like a prisoner in her own house during the storm. tree →

Note

Countable. Related words: «prison» (the building), «jail» (US «jail», UK also «gaol» — old spelling), «imprison». A «prisoner» is not always a criminal: prisoners of war are soldiers who were captured.

In Jewish tradition

A person kept in prison. In the Psalms, Job and Lamentations, prisoners are people in captivity or distress, and the prophets use it for exiles.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the Psalm as teaching that God hears the needy and does not despise those in captivity. Lamentations is read as showing that crushing prisoners is a wrong God sees.

Examples

• And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound; and he was there in the prison. (Torah GEN.39.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. (Torah GEN.39.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth, (Writings LAM.3.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• For the LORD hearkeneth unto the needy, and despiseth not His prisoners. (Writings PSA.69.34, JPS 1917) tree →
• There the prisoners are at ease together; they hear not the voice of the taskmaster. (Writings JOB.3.18, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Related words: «prison» (the building), «jail» (US «jail», UK also «gaol» — old spelling), «imprison». A «prisoner» is not always a criminal: prisoners of war are soldiers who were captured.