Dungeon: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฐ
dungeon
[ หdสnสคษn ]
fantasy game setting
A strong, dark underground prison, usually with tunnels and cells, often used for keeping prisoners or animals.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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dungeon |
Refers to an underground prison or cell, typically found in castles and often associated with medieval times or fantasy stories.
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prison |
A secure facility where people are held as punishment for committing serious crimes, usually for longer periods than in a jail.
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jail |
A place where people are held temporarily while they await trial or serve a short sentence. It's less severe than a prison.
|
cellar |
A room below ground level in a house or building, often used for storing wine, food, or other items. It lacks the prison-like connotation of a dungeon.
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Examples of usage
- The hero had to navigate through the dungeon filled with traps and monsters.
- The treasure was hidden deep in the dungeon, guarded by a fierce dragon.
historical context
A dark, often underground, medieval prison or vault, typically used for political prisoners or torture.
Synonyms
dungeon cell, keep, oubliette.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
dungeon |
A secure underground prison, often found in castles. It's a general term for a dark, confined place used to hold prisoners.
|
oubliette |
A particularly gruesome type of dungeon designed to disappear prisoners, often a deep pit with a narrow opening only at the top, with a strong negative connotation.
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dungeon cell |
Refers to an individual room or compartment within a dungeon where prisoners are held. Highlights the confined and small space.
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keep |
Refers to the strongest and central tower of a castle used for defensive purposes. Although not mainly a prison, it can include dungeons.
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Examples of usage
- The captured rebel was thrown into the dungeon and left to rot.
- The dungeon in the castle was notorious for its cruel treatment of prisoners.
Translations
Translations of the word "dungeon" in other languages:
๐ต๐น masmorra
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคพเคฒเคเฅเค เคฐเฅ
๐ฉ๐ช Verlies
๐ฎ๐ฉ penjara bawah tanah
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟัะดะทะตะผะตะปะปั
๐ต๐ฑ lochy
๐ฏ๐ต ใใณใธใงใณ
๐ซ๐ท donjon
๐ช๐ธ mazmorra
๐น๐ท zindan
๐ฐ๐ท ๋์
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฒูุฒุงูุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ dungeon
๐ธ๐ฐ dungeon
๐จ๐ณ ๅฐ็ข
๐ธ๐ฎ jeฤa
๐ฎ๐ธ dรฝflissa
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะทัะฝะดะฐะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแ แ
๐ฆ๐ฟ zindan
๐ฒ๐ฝ mazmorra
Etymology
The word 'dungeon' originated from the Old French word 'donjon', meaning 'keep' or 'main tower of a castle'. In medieval times, dungeons were not only used for punishment but also as a means of securing valuable prisoners or loot. The concept of dungeons has been popularized in fantasy literature and games, where they are often depicted as mysterious and dangerous locations filled with traps and monsters.
See also: dung.