hostage

[ hos-tij ]
/ ˈhɒs tɪdʒ /

noun

a person given or held as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions or terms, promises, etc., by another.
Archaic. a security or pledge.
Obsolete. the condition of a hostage.

verb (used with object), hos·taged, hos·tag·ing.

to give (someone) as a hostage: He was hostaged to the Indians.

Origin of hostage

1225–75; Middle English < Old French hostage ( h- by association with ( h)oste host2), ostage ≪ Vulgar Latin *obsidāticum state of being a hostage < Latin obsid- (stem of obses) hostage (equivalent to ob- ob- + sid- sit1) + -āticum -age

OTHER WORDS FROM hostage

hos·tage·ship, noun

Example sentences from the Web for hostage

British Dictionary definitions for hostage

hostage
/ (ˈhɒstɪdʒ) /

noun

a person given to or held by a person, organization, etc, as a security or pledge or for ransom, release, exchange for prisoners, etc
the state of being held as a hostage
any security or pledge
give hostages to fortune to place oneself in a position in which misfortune may strike through the loss of what one values most

Word Origin for hostage

C13: from Old French, from hoste guest, host 1