Enjail

/ɛnˈdʒeɪl/ verb

Definition

to put into or confine in a jail; to imprison someone.

Etymology

From en- (prefix) + jail (from Old French jaole, ultimately from Latin caveola meaning 'small cage'). This verb form emerged in Middle English as a straightforward way to express the act of imprisonment.

Kelly Says

While we say 'jail' as a noun all the time, the verb 'enjail' is rarely used today—we prefer 'imprison' or 'incarcerate'—showing how some word formations fade even though the prefix pattern still works in English.

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