HOSTAGE

hostage, surety

(noun) a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

hostage (plural hostages)

A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or similar agreement, such as to ensure the status of a vassal.

A person seized in order to compel another party to act (or refrain from acting) in a certain way, because of the threat of harm to the hostage.

Something that constrains one's actions because it is at risk.

One who is compelled by something, especially something that poses a threat; one who is not free to choose their own course of action.

The condition of being held as security or to compel someone else to act or not act in a particular way.

Verb

hostage (third-person singular simple present hostages, present participle hostaging, simple past and past participle hostaged)

(possibly, nonstandard) To give (someone or something) as a hostage to (someone or something else).

(possibly, nonstandard) To hold (someone or something) hostage, especially in a way that constrains or controls the person or thing held, or in order to exchange for something else.

Anagrams

• he-goats, she-goat

Source: Wiktionary

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Hos"tage, n. Etym: [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F. ôtage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L. hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See Host a landlord.]

Definition: A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released. Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight. Shak. He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune. Bacon.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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