Definition of Asylum

1. Noun. A shelter from danger or hardship.

Exact synonyms: Refuge, Sanctuary
Specialized synonyms: Harbor, Harbour, Safehold, Safe House
Generic synonyms: Shelter

2. Noun. A hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced person.

Definition of Asylum

1. n. A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege.

Definition of Asylum

1. Noun. A place of safety ¹

2. Noun. The protection, physical and legal, afforded by such a place. ¹

3. Noun. A place of protection or restraint for one or more classes of the disadvantaged, especially the mentally ill. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Asylum

1. an institution for the care of the mentally ill [n -LUMS or -LA]

Medical Definition of Asylum

1. Old term for an institution for the housing and care of those who by reason of age or mental or bodily infirmities are unable to care for themselves. Origin: L. Fr. G. Asylon, a sanctuary, fr. A-priv. + syle, right of seizure (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Asylum

asura
asverin
aswarm
asway
aswell
aswim
aswing
aswirl
aswoon
asyla
asylee
asylees
asyllabic
asylum (current term)
asylum seeker
asylum seekers
asylumlike
asylums
asymbiosis
asymbolia
asymmetral
asymmetric
asymmetric bars
asymmetric centre
asymmetric centres
asymmetric cryptography
asymmetric disulfide
asymmetric meter

Literary usage of Asylum

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by Philadelphia Neurological Society, American Neurological Association, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association (1885)
"In another, which is referred to in the report of the asylum for 1869, the patient died, on the ninth day after admission, as the result of nine fractures ..."

2. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1866)
"Of the Eastern asylum of Kentucky, for the fiscal year 1864-65. 3. Of the Bloomingdale asylum, for the year 1865. 5. Of the Western asylum of Virginia, ..."

3. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by American Neurological Association, Philadelphia Neurological Society, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association, Boston Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (1885)
"BS Report of the Committee to Investigate the Affairs and Management of the State Lunatic asylum at Utica. Made to the Assembly, April 27, 1884. ..."

4. United States Supreme Court Reports by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company, United States Supreme Court (1885)
"The 4th section declared as follows: The Act relating to the Orphan Boys' asylum of New Orleans, referred to in this section, declared as follows: "Sec. 6. ..."

5. Annual Report by Correctional Association of New York (1896)
"asylum located at Auburn. 2. State commissioner in lunacy to appoint medical ... Insane female convicts to be transferred from Sing Sing to this asylum. 7. ..."

6. Proceedings by Institution of Municipal Engineers, London, Incorporated Association of Municipal and County Engineers, Association of Municipal and Sanitary Engineers and Surveyors (1901)
"Cane Hill asylum was the work of the late Mr. CH Howell, at one time Consulting Architect to the Commissioners in Lunacy. Claybury, Bexley Heath, Hill End ..."

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