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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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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