Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1400-1500
Language: Latin
Origin: Greek asylon, from asylos 'not able to be seized'

asylum

 noun
     
a‧sy‧lum
1 [uncountable] protection given to someone by a government because they have escaped from fighting or political trouble in their own country
apply for/seek/be granted asylum
He has been granted asylum in France.
➔ political asylum
2 [countable] old use a mental hospital
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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