captive

[ kap-tiv ]

noun

1. a prisoner.
2. a person who is enslaved or dominated:

   He is the captive of his own fears.

adjective

1. made or held prisoner, especially in war:

   captive troops.

2. kept in confinement or restraint:

   captive animals.

3. enslaved by love, beauty, etc.; captivated:

   her captive beau.

4. of or relating to a captive.
5. managed as an affiliate or subsidiary of a corporation and operated almost exclusively for the use or needs of the parent corporation rather than independently for the general public:

   a captive shop;

   a captive mine.

captive

/ ˈkæptɪv /

noun

1. a person or animal that is confined or restrained, esp a prisoner of war
2. a person whose behaviour is dominated by some emotion

   a captive of love

adjective

1. held as prisoner
2. held under restriction or control; confined

   captive water held behind a dam

3. captivated; enraptured
4. unable by circumstances to avoid speeches, advertisements, etc (esp in the phrase captive audience )

Other Words From

• non·cap·tive adjective
• pseu·do·cap·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of captive¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English or directly from Middle French, from Latin captīvus, equivalent to capt(us) “taken” (past participle of capere “to take”) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )

Word History and Origins

Origin of captive¹

C14: from Latin captīvus, from capere to take

Example Sentences

Sabrine reports that the latest demands by ISIS militants are three prisoners for every captive soldier.

From The Daily Beast

It was once the most glamorous hotel in town, but in 1964, hundreds of European hostages were held captive in its rooms.

From The Daily Beast

Question 9: If the female captive was impregnated by her owner, can he then sell her?

From The Daily Beast

Their night takes an unexpected twist when they break into a home and discover a young girl is being held captive inside.

From The Daily Beast

Earlier this year, a mutual friend told me that Peter was being held captive in Syria.

From The Daily Beast

The only thing that at all tended to shake this conviction, was the extraordinary poltroonery of our new captive.

From Project Gutenberg

The wee round wonders with their mystery of velvety colour are well fitted to take captive the young eye.

From Project Gutenberg

American vessels made occasional trips outside the Bay, and brought in captive sailing-vessels.

From Project Gutenberg

The cities of the south are shut up, and there is none to open them: all Juda is carried away captive with an entire captivity.

From Project Gutenberg

And he jerked his thumb towards the tower where mademoiselle was a captive, and where at night "Battista" was locked in with her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• caged
• enslaved
• imprisoned
• incommunicado