asylum

Where does the word "asylum" come from? It comes from Greek asylon, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Asylum’s story begins in Greek: asylon meant “sanctuary.” 'a-', not, plus 'sylē', right of seizure: a temple where fugitives could not be taken. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as asylum. A place of refuge. It reached English by 1400s as asylum. Later an institution for the mentally ill; 'political asylum' dates from the 1950s. Today, asylum means protection granted to a refugee; a former term for a psychiatric hospital.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient asylon "sanctuary", 'a-', not, plus 'sylē', right of seizure: a temple where fugitives could not be taken.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient asylum "refuge", a place of refuge.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s asylum "refuge; institution", later an institution for the mentally ill; 'political asylum' dates from the 1950s.