Asyle

/əˈsaɪl/ noun

Definition

A sanctuary or place of refuge where someone cannot be harmed or arrested.

Etymology

From Old French 'asile' and Latin 'asylum', derived from Greek 'asylon' meaning 'inviolable' or 'sanctuary', from 'a-' (not) plus 'sylon' (right of seizure).

Kelly Says

This word is practically extinct in modern English, replaced by 'asylum', but it shows how the same Latin and Greek roots can produce different English words depending on when and how they entered the language.

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