Parols

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Conditional releases granted to prisoners before the completion of their sentence with the requirement of good behavior ; the process or act of releasing someone from confinement under specific terms ; a legal or social system allowing offenders supervised freedom under stated conditions
2. The granting of early freedom to incarcerated individuals contingent upon compliance with certain rules ; the status of being temporarily released from custody while still under legal constraints ; a structured arrangement permitting monitored liberty as part of the penal process
3. Acts of pardoning or freeing prisoners ahead of term given adherence to conditions ; the state or privilege of restricted release following imprisonment ; the administrative measure allowing supervised release to facilitate reintegration into society

Etymology: "Parols" is the plural of "parol," which passed into English through Middle French "parole," from Latin "parabola," from Ancient Greek "parabolē," meaning a comparison or placing side by side. The same source gave English "parable," so "parol" is a doublet of that word: two forms from one root that reached the language by different routes. Tagalog has its own "parol," meaning a lantern, borrowed from Spanish "farol," also meaning lantern. It has no connection to the Greek-derived word, so the two only look alike.

Synonyms: verbal agreements, oral contracts, spoken agreements, oral promises

Antonyms: written contracts, written agreements