captive
UK: ˈkæptɪv | US: ˈkæptɪv
n. a person or animal that has been taken prisoner or confined
adj. imprisoned or confined; unable to escape
captive = capt<take/seize> + ive<adjective suffix>
- capt (from Latin capere, meaning "to take, seize")
- ive (a suffix forming adjectives, indicating "having the nature of")
Etymology Origin:
The word "captive" traces back to Latin captivus, derived from capere ("to take"). It entered Middle English via Old French, retaining its core meaning of "one who is taken." The morpheme capt reflects the act of seizing, while ive turns it into a descriptor for someone in that state. The logic is straightforward: a "captive" is literally "one who has been seized."
The soldiers were held captive for three years.
The zoo keeps captive animals for educational purposes.
Her captive audience listened intently to every word.
The pirate ship transported dozens of captives.
He felt like a captive in his own home during the lockdown.