immure
C2 / Very LowFormal, Literary, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
To enclose or confine someone within walls; to imprison.
To shut oneself away from the world, often for spiritual or intellectual purposes; to enclose within boundaries, either physically or metaphorically.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries strong connotations of forceful, permanent, or voluntary seclusion, often in a tomb-like or cell-like space. Historically associated with punitive walling-up or monastic seclusion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or grammatical differences. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to appear in British historical or gothic literary contexts. In American usage, it may be slightly more associated with metaphorical or psychological seclusion.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech for both. Marginally higher frequency in British historical fiction and non-fiction.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] immure [object] in/within [place][subject] be/become immured in/within [place/state]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “immure oneself in an ivory tower”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or architectural texts to describe physical confinement or monastic practices.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound archaic or pretentious.
Technical
Not used in modern technical fields. May appear in historical archaeology or conservation contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The king threatened to immure the traitor in the castle's deepest oubliette.
- She decided to immure herself in the library until the thesis was complete.
American English
- The cult leader immured his followers within the compound, cutting off all contact.
- Feeling overwhelmed, he immured himself in his home office for the weekend.
adverb
British English
- The hermit lived immuredly, with only birds for company.
adjective
British English
- The immured nun had not seen daylight in twenty years.
- They discovered the immured remains behind the ancient wall.
American English
- The immured prisoner etched his story into the stone.
- She lived an immured life, dedicated entirely to her research.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the old story, the princess was immured in a high tower.
- The historian described how certain religious orders would immure themselves as an act of extreme devotion.
- The fortress was designed to immure attackers in its narrow courtyards.
- The poet chose to immure himself in a remote cottage, finding inspiration in solitude.
- Modern technology, ironically, can immure us within echo chambers of our own opinions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MURAL painted on a WALL. To IMMURE someone is to put them behind a wall (IM-MURE sounds like 'in-wall').
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND/IDEAS ARE A WALLED ENCLOSURE (e.g., 'immured in his own prejudices').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'immune' (иммунный).
- The closest equivalent is 'замуровать' (to wall up) or 'заточить' (to imprison), but 'immure' is more specific and literary.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling with 'immune'.
- Using it in active voice without a reflexive pronoun where appropriate (e.g., 'He immured in the castle' is wrong; 'He immured himself in the castle' is correct).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the verb 'immure' used most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and considered formal or literary. You will most likely encounter it in historical writing, gothic novels, or academic texts.
While both mean to confine, 'imprison' is the general, common term for putting someone in jail. 'Immure' is more specific and vivid, implying confinement within walls (like a dungeon, tomb, or cell) and often carries a sense of being sealed in or forgotten.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically to describe someone who shuts themselves away from society, ideas, or influences, e.g., 'immured in tradition' or 'immured by his own fears'.
The direct noun form 'immurement' exists but is even rarer than the verb. It refers to the act of immuring or the state of being immured.