As a noun inmate
is a person confined to an institution such as a prison (as a convict) or hospital (as a patient).
As a verb detained is
(detain).
inmate
English
Noun
(
en noun)
A person confined to an institution such as a prison (as a convict) or hospital (as a patient)
A person who occupies or dwells within a dwelling-house. The word came to be used to refer to temporary inhabitants such as guests in a hotel, students in an on-campus dormitory, patients in a hospital, or prisoners.
Usage notes
Perhaps around 1970, television journalists began to use the word as a euphemism for "prisoner", and today perhaps many young people cannot remember that it ever had any other meaning.
Anagrams
*
*
detained
English
Verb
(head)
(detain)
detain
English
Verb
(
en verb)
Keep (someone) from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
To put under custody.
To keep back or from; to withhold.
* Jeremy Taylor
- Detain not the wages of the hireling.
