| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024hos•tage /ˈhɑstɪdʒ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- a person captured or kept by another so that certain terms will be met by the person's family, government, etc.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024hos•tage (hos′tij),USA pronunciation n., v., -taged, -tag•ing. n. - a person given or held as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions or terms, promises, etc., by another.
- [Archaic.]a security or pledge.
- [Obs.]the condition of a hostage.
v.t. - to give (someone) as a hostage:He was hostaged to the Indians.
- Latin obsid- (stem of obses) hostage (equivalent. to ob- ob- + sid- sit) + -āticum -age
- Old French hostage (h- by association with (h)oste host2), ostage Vulgar Latin *obsidāticum state of being a hostage
- Middle English 1225–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: hostage /ˈhɒstɪdʒ/ n - a person given to or held by a person, organization, etc, as a security or pledge or for ransom, release, exchange for prisoners, etc
- the state of being held as a hostage
- any security or pledge
- give hostages to fortune ⇒ to place oneself in a position in which misfortune may strike through the loss of what one values most
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, from hoste guest, host1 |