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

The two held captive were ferried to Uganda without their belongings, including their passports, which were later picked up by Besigye's party officials from the Nairobi hotel.

From BBC

They will almost assuredly will be captive of warmed-over doctrinal verities, underwritten by arrogant conviction.

From Salon

Much like its predecessor, “Gladiator II” centers on spectacular gladiatorial games held at the Colosseum, which pits captive warriors like Lucius against other men as well as animals in combat.

From Los Angeles Times

The chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Yuli Edelstein, called it "a shameful decision by a political body held captive by Islamist interests".

From BBC

Roxie was born in July, taking the number of captive red pandas at Edinburgh Zoo to four, and a fifth arrived in Scotland from Whipsnade zoo in October.

From BBC

Related Words

• caged
• enslaved
• imprisoned
• incommunicado