Article one penned by prisoner not given life? (9)
I believe the answer is:
inanimate
'article one penned by prisoner not given life?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'article one penned by prisoner' is the wordplay.
'article' becomes 'an' (indefinite article).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'penned by' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are penned in).
'prisoner' becomes 'inmate' (inmate can mean someone in prison).
'an'+'i'='ani'
'ani' put into 'inmate' is 'INANIMATE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for inanimate that I've seen before include "spiritless" , "Showing no sign of life" , "Not endowed with life" , "Dull" , "Not alive" .)
