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

Related Words

• caged
• enslaved
• imprisoned
• incommunicado