Hostage
/ˈhɒs.tɪdʒ/noun
A person held as security for the fulfillment of a condition or agreement.
Did you know?The word comes from a medieval French term tied to hospitality and legal protection, showing how language can turn a person into a bargaining object.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰóstis
“stranger, guest, one bound by reciprocal obligations”
Latin
Latin
hospes
“guest, host, stranger with reciprocal rights”
Old French
Old French
hostage
“person given as security; pledge”
Middle English
English
hostage
“a person held to secure an agreement or ransom”
Modern English
English
hostage
“a person held captive as leverage”
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