parole

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Law The release of a prisoner whose term has not expired on condition of sustained lawful behavior that is subject to regular monitoring by an officer of the law for a set period of time.
2. n. Law The duration of such conditional release.
3. n. A password used by an officer of the day, an officer on guard, or the personnel commanded by such an officer.
4. n. Word of honor, especially that of a prisoner of war who is granted freedom only after promising not to engage in combat until formally exchanged.
5. n. Linguistics The act of speaking; a particular utterance or word.
6. v. To release (a prisoner) on parole.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A word or words; word of mouth; oral utterance or statement; language; text.
2. n. Word of honor given or pledged; solemn promise; plighted faith; specifically, a formal promise or pledge given by a prisoner of war that he will not try to escape if allowed to go about at liberty, or that, if released, he will return to custody at a certain time if not previously discharged, or that he will not bear arms against his captors within a stated period, as during the existing war. In civilized warfare the breaking of parole is regarded as an infamous transgression, and an officer so offending may not expect quarter should he again fall into the hands of the enemy.
3. n. Milit., a word or words given out every day in orders by a commanding officer, in camp or garrison, by which friends may be distinguished from enemies. It differs from the countersign in that the latter is given to all guards, while the parole is given only to officers of the guard, or to those who inspect the guard.
4. n. In law: Oral declarations; word of mouth.
5. n. The pleadings in a suit.
6. Given by word of mouth; oral; not written: opposed to documentary, or given by affidavit: as, parole evidence.
7. Not given or executed under seal: either verbal or written, but without seal: as, a parole contract. This use, which originated when a writing not under seal was not allowed to be proved to a jury, is now practically obsolete.
8. To accept a parole from; allow to go about at liberty on parole. See parole, n.

Wiktionary

1. n. The release or state of a former prisoner on the understanding that he/she checks in regularly and obeys the law.
2. n. The amount of time a former prisoner spends on limited release.
3. n. archaic A word of honor, especially given by a prisoner of war, to not engage in combat if released.
4. n. linguistics Language in use, as opposed to language as a system.
5. n. US The permission for foreigner who does not meet the technical requirements for a visa to be allowed to enter the U.S. on humanitarian grounds.
6. v. transitive To release (a prisoner) on the understanding that s/he checks in regularly and obeys the law.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. obsolete A word; an oral utterance.
2. n. (Mil.) Word of promise; word of honor; plighted faith promise, upon one's faith and honor, to fulfill stated conditions, as not to bear arms against one's captors, to return to custody, or the like.
3. n. (Mil.) A watchword given only to officers of guards; -- distinguished from countersign, which is given to all guards.
4. n. (Law) Oral declaration. See 1st Parol, 2.
5. n. The release of a prisoner from confinement prior to the end of the original sentence, conditioned on good behavior and often with other specific conditions, such as not to associate with known criminals. Such early release is common where the sentence provides a minimum and maximum term.
6. n. A document authorizing a parole{5}.
7. adj. See 2d parol.
8. v. (Mil. and Penology) To set at liberty on parole.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. release a criminal from detention and place him on parole
2. n. a secret word or phrase known only to a restricted group
3. n. (law) a conditional release from imprisonment that entitles the person to serve the remainder of the sentence outside the prison as long as the terms of release are complied with
4. n. a promise