custody
pronunciation
How to pronounce custody in British English:
UK [ˈkʌstədi]
How to pronounce custody in American English:
US [ˈkʌstədi]
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- Noun:
- a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
- holding by the police
- (with `in') guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
Word Origin
- custody (n.)
- mid-15c., from Latin custodia "guarding, watching, keeping," from custos (genitive custodis) "guardian, keeper, protector," from PIE *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal" (see hide (n.1)).
Example
- 1. Tsvangirai was taken into custody and beaten savagely .
- 2. I went to court to get legal custody .
- 3. Family members allege he was killed in custody .
- 4. After a firefight , they killed osama bin laden and took custody of his body .
- 5. Some lost sight of their families at checkpoints or were taken into state custody .