'Hostage' definitions:
Definition of 'hostage'
(from WordNet)
noun
A prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms [syn: hostage, surety]
Definition of 'Hostage'
From: GCIDE
- Hostage \Hos"tage\, n. [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F. [^o]tage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L. hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See Host a landlord.] A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released. [1913 Webster]
- Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'hostage'
From: Easton
- Hostage a person delivered into the hands of another as a security for the performance of some promise, etc. (2 Kings 14:14; 2 Chr. 25:24).
Synonyms of 'hostage'
From: Moby Thesaurus