Imprison ment, n.
Etymology: [OE. enprisonment; F. emprisonnement.]
The act of imprisoning, or the state of being imprisoned; confinement; restraint. His sinews waxen weak and raw Through long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser. Every confinement of the person is an imprisonment, whether it be in a common prison, or in a private house, or even by foreibly detaining one in the public streets. Blackstone. False imprisonment. (Law) See under False.
Syn. -- Incarceration; custody; confinement; durance; restraint.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for imprisonment; he lists it under fetter.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.