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   A·sy·lum

   /əˈsīləm/

   

   noun

   • 1. the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee: "she applied for asylum and was granted refugee status" Similar refugesanctuarysheltersafetysafe keepingprotectionsecurityimmunityhavensafe havenretreatsanctumharborport in a stormoasissafe housefastnesshideawayhideoutboltholefoxholehiding placeden
   • ▪ shelter or protection from danger: "we provide asylum for those too ill to care for themselves" Similar refugesanctuarysheltersafetysafe keepingprotectionsecurityimmunityhavensafe havenretreatsanctumharborport in a stormoasissafe housefastnesshideawayhideoutboltholefoxholehiding placeden
   • 2. an institution offering shelter and support to people who are mentally ill: dated "he'd been committed to an asylum" Similar psychiatric hospitalpsychiatric unithospitalhomeinstitutioninformal:nuthousefunny farmloony binbughousebooby hatchdated, offensive:mental institutionmental hospitalarchaic:bedlammadhouse

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘place of refuge’, especially for criminals): via Latin from Greek asulon ‘refuge’, from asulos ‘inviolable’, from a- ‘without’ + sulon ‘right of seizure’. Current senses date from the 18th century.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • A

     1

   • S

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   • Y

     4

   • L

     1

   • U

     1

   • M

     3

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