captive Hear it!

captive definition

cap·tive (kap′tiv)

noun

  1. a person caught and held prisoner, as in war
  2. a person who is captivated, as by beauty or love

Etymology: L captivus < captus, pp. of capere, to take: see have

adjective

    1. taken or held prisoner
    2. not able to act independently a captive nation
    3. ☆ obliged or forced to listen, whether wanting to or not a captive audience
  2. captivated
  3. of captivity

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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