n. pl. cus·to·dies 1. The control and care of a person or property, especially when granted by a court: an adult who was given custody of the child. See Synonyms at care. 2. The state of being detained or held under guard, especially by the police: took the robbery suspect into custody. [Middle English custodie, from Latin custōdia, from custōs, custōd-, guard; see (s)keu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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