captive

Etymology

From Middle English captif; in turn ultimately from Latin captīvus, probably through a borrowing from a Middle French intermediate. Doublet of caitiff.

Pronunciation

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Noun

captive (plural captives)

1. One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess‎:

     When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. The captive made no resistance […].

2. One held prisoner.
3. (figuratively) One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.

Adjective

captive (not comparable)

1. Held prisoner; not free; confined.
   • Milton

     A poor, miserable, captive thrall.

2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
   • Shakespeare

     Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words.

3. Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.

   captive chains; captive hours

Verb

captive (third-person singular simple present captives, present participle captiving, simple past and past participle captived)

1. (transitive, archaic) To capture; to take captive.

Verb

captive

1. first-person singular present indicative of captiver
2. third-person singular present indicative of captiver
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of captiver
4. first-person singular present subjunctive of captiver
5. second-person singular imperative of captiver

Adjective

captīve

1. vocative masculine singular of captīvus

Noun

captive

1. Alternative form of captif