captive
/ˈkæptɪv/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.70 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
noun
A captive insurance company, a subsidiary of a company used as its internal insurer.
adj
Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
adj
Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.
Example Sentences
- "I envy not in any moods The captive void of noble rage, The linnet born within the cage, That never knew the summer woods: […]"
- "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[…]."
- "A poor, miserable, captive thrall."
- "Even in so short a space, my woman's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words."
- "captive chains; captive hours"
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.