Immure

To immure means to enclose or confine someone against their will, typically within walls or a restrictive space, often to imprison or isolate them. The act of immuring often implies a deliberate act of separation, intended to limit freedom of movement or contact with the outside world. It can be a physical act, such as bricking up a prisoner in a cell, or a metaphorical one, like trapping someone within rigid societal expectations or feelings of guilt. Immurement can be used for punishment, protection, or simply to remove an individual from the public view, thus often involving the deprivation of basic needs and emotional harm. The purpose of immuring can vary depending on the context, but the outcome consistently involves confinement.

Immure meaning with examples

• The tyrannical king, driven by paranoia, ordered his political rivals to be immured within the castle dungeons, effectively silencing any dissent and consolidating his power. These prisoners, subjected to darkness and starvation, spent years in confinement, forever changed by their forced isolation. Despite their pleas for mercy, they remained forgotten by a society that willingly ignored their plight, succumbing to the harsh realities of their immurement.
• Haunted by her past transgressions, the woman chose to immure herself within her home, cutting off all contact with friends and family. Surrounded by physical comforts but mentally trapped by her remorse, she slowly retreated from the world. She built walls of regret, and each day, she felt her spirit fade, the memories of her errors causing her an ever-deepening psychological immurement.
• Driven by a misguided sense of safety, the town leaders decided to immure the entire community behind high, impenetrable walls, separating themselves from the outside world. This extreme form of protection resulted in a stifling atmosphere, where innovation and progress were replaced with fear. Though seemingly safe from external threats, the internal isolation and lack of interaction soon became the most significant threat to their well-being, causing a new kind of immurement.
• The artist, seeking inspiration, made a deliberate choice to immure himself in his studio for a year, disconnecting from the distractions of modern life and allowing his creative spirit to flourish. This temporary form of isolation, however, presented its own difficulties. The artist's initial enthusiasm waned and was replaced by boredom and a feeling of detachment from the world outside. His project was successful, but the immurement had its own costs.