captive

English

Etymology

From Middle English captif; in turn ultimately from Latin captīvus, probably through a borrowing from a Middle French intermediate. Doublet of caitiff.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkæptɪv/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: cap‧tive

Noun

captive (plural captives)

1. One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, , →OCLC, Canto XXVII, page 44:

     I envy not in any moods
     ⁠The captive void of noble rage,
     ⁠The linnet born within the cage,
     That never knew the summer woods: […]

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:

     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. (figurative) One 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.

Translations

Adjective

captive (not comparable)

1. Held prisoner; not free; confined.
   • 1671, John Milton, “(please specify the page)”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: J. M for John Starkey , →OCLC:

     A poor, miserable, captive thrall.

2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
   • c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: ”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     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

Antonyms

• non-captive, noncaptive

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

captive (third-person singular simple present captives, present participle captiving, simple past and past participle captived)

1. (transitive, archaic) To capture; to take captive.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kap.tiv/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

captive f (plural captives, masculine captif)

1. female captive

Verb

captive

1. inflection of captiver:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

Latin

Adjective

captīve

1. vocative masculine singular of captīvus

Middle English

Noun

captive

1. Alternative form of captif