hostage
[ hos-tij ]
/ ˈhɒs tɪdʒ /
noun
a person given or held as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions or terms, promises, etc., by another.
Archaic. a security or pledge.
Obsolete. the condition of a hostage.
verb (used with object), hos·taged, hos·tag·ing.
to give (someone) as a hostage: He was hostaged to the Indians.
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Origin of hostage
OTHER WORDS FROM hostage
hos·tage·ship, nounWords nearby hostage
hospital train, hospitium, hospodar, host, hosta, hostage, host computer, hostel, hosteler, hosteller, hostelling
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for hostage
British Dictionary definitions for hostage
hostage
/ (ˈhɒstɪdʒ) /
noun
a person given to or held by a person, organization, etc, as a security or pledge or for ransom, release, exchange for prisoners, etc
the state of being held as a hostage
any security or pledge
give hostages to fortune to place oneself in a position in which misfortune may strike through the loss of what one values most
Word Origin for hostage
C13: from Old French, from hoste guest, host 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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