captive
nounadjectiveverbattested in dialogue
- //ˈkæptɪv//
One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
noun
- 1
One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
I envy not in any moods The captive void of noble rage, The linnet born within the cage, That never knew the summer woods: […]
When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. The captive made no resistance[…].
- 2
One held prisoner.
- 3
figurativeOne charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
- 4
A captive insurance company, a subsidiary of a company used as its internal insurer.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English captif; derived from Latin captīvus, probably through a borrowing from a Middle French intermediate. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“seize, hold”). Doublet of caitiff.
adjective
- 1
Held prisoner; not free; confined.
A poor, miserable, captive thrall.
- 2
Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
Even in so short a space, my woman's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words.
- 3
Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.
captive chains; captive hours
verb
- 1
archaicTo capture; to take captive.
Forms
- plural
- captives
- past tense
- captived
- past participle
- captived
- present participle
- captiving
- third person singular
- captives
captive · One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
captivity · The state of being captive.capture · An act of capturing; a seizing by force or stratagem.captured · That has been captured.