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captive

Pronunciation: /ˈkæptɪv/

The English word “captive” has 8 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
  2. One held prisoner.
  3. One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
  4. A captive insurance company, a subsidiary of a company used as its internal insurer.

adjective

  1. Held prisoner; not free; confined.
  2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
  3. Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.

verb

  1. To capture; to take captive.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English captif; derived from Latin captīvus, probably through a borrowing from a Middle French intermediate. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“seize, hold”). Doublet of caitiff.

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