Captive
/ˈkæp.tɪv/noun
A person who has been taken prisoner or confined against their will.
Did you know?The Latin root 'captivus' means 'taken' or 'seized', hinting at the ancient belief that one's spirit could be captured as well.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kap-
“to seize, take or hold”
Latin
Latin
captivus
“taken, seized; a person taken prisoner”
Old French
Old French
captive
“a person held in bondage or confinement”
Middle English
Middle English
captif
“a prisoner, someone held against their will”
Modern English
English
captive
“a person held as a prisoner or in confinement”
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