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Webster 1913 Edition

Captive

Cap′tive

,
Noun.
[L.
captivus
, fr.
capere
to take: cf. F.
captif
. See
Caitiff
.]
1.
A prisoner taken by force or stratagem, esp., by an enemy, in war; one kept in bondage or in the power of another.
Then, when I am thy
captive
, talk of chains.
Milton.
2.
One charmed or subdued by beaty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.

Cap′tive

,
Adj.
1.
Made prisoner, especially in war; held in bondage or in confinement.
A poor, miserable,
captive
thrall.
Milton.
2.
Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
Even in so short a space, my wonan’s heart
Grossly grew
captive
to his honey words.
Shakespeare
3.
Of or pertaining to bondage or confinement; serving to confine;
as,
captive
chains;
captive
hours
.

Cap′tive

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Captived
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Captiving
.]
To take prisoner; to capture.
Their inhabitans slaughtered and
captived
.
Burke.

Webster 1828 Edition

Captive

CAPTIVE

,
Noun.
1.
A prisoner taken by force or stratagem in war, by an enemy; followed by to; as a captive to the victor.
2.
One who is charmed or subdued by beauty or excellence; one whose affections are seized, or who is held by strong ties of love.
3.
One who is ensnared by love or flattery, or by wiles. 2 Tim. 2:26.
4.
A slave. Anciently captives were enslaved by their conquerors. But in modern times, they are not made slaves in Christian countries; and the word captive, in a literal sense, rarely signifies a slave.

CAPTIVE

,
Verb.
T.
To take prisoner; to bring into subjection.

Definition 2024

captive

captive

See also: captivé

English

Noun

captive ‎(plural captives)

  1. One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess:
      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 […].
  2. One held prisoner.
  3. (figuratively) One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.

Translations

Adjective

captive ‎(not comparable)

  1. Held prisoner; not free; confined.
    • Milton
      A poor, miserable, captive thrall.
  2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
    • Shakespeare
      Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words.
  3. Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.
    captive chains; captive hours

Translations


French

Verb

captive

  1. first-person singular present indicative of captiver
  2. third-person singular present indicative of captiver
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of captiver
  4. first-person singular present subjunctive of captiver
  5. second-person singular imperative of captiver

Latin

Adjective

captīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of captīvus

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin captivus.

Pronunciation

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