cap|tive

cap|tive
cap|tive «KAP tihv», noun, adjective.
–n.
1. a person or animal captured and held against his will; prisoner: »

The pirates took many captives and sold them as slaves.

2. Figurative. a person charmed or enslaved as by beauty or love.
–adj.
1. made a prisoner; held against one's will; confined: »

The captive rabbits were shut up in a cage.

2. Figurative. captivated: »

The captive spectators sat spellbound before the tightrope walker.

3. owned and controlled by a parent company for the use of the latter: »

This steel company owns and operates a captive coal mine.

4. of or belonging to a captive.
╂[< Latin captīvus < capere take. See etym. of doublet caitiff. (Cf. ↑caitiff)]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cap — cap·no·di·a·ce·ae; cap·no·di·um; cap·pa; cap·pagh; cap·pa·ri·da·ce·ae; cap·pa·ris; cap·pe·len·ite; cap·pel·let·ti; cap·pie; cap·po; cap·py; cap·ra; cap·ral·de·hyde; cap·rate; cap·ric; cap·ri·cor·nis; cap·ri·dae; cap·ri·fi·cate; cap·ri·fi·ca·tion; …   English syllables

  • tive — ab·duc·tive; ab·duc·tive·ly; ab·er·ra·tive; ab·re·ac·tive; ab·sorp·tive; ab·strac·tive; ac·cel·er·a·tive; ac·com·mo·da·tive; ac·cre·tive; ac·cul·tur·a·tive; ac·cu·mu·la·tive; ac·quis·i·tive; ac·quis·i·tive·ness; adapt·a·tive; ad·duc·tive;… …   English syllables

  • cap|ti|va|tive — «KAP tuh VAY tihv», adjective. fitted or tending to captivate …   Useful english dictionary

  • captive — cap·tive …   English syllables

  • captive — cap|tive1 [ kæptıv ] adjective * a captive wild animal is kept in a place such as a park or ZOO instead of being allowed to live in its natural environment a. kept as a prisoner: take/hold someone captive: She was kidnapped and held captive for… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • captive — cap•tive [[t]ˈkæp tɪv[/t]] n. 1) a prisoner 2) a person who is enslaved or dominated: a captive of one s own fears[/ex] 3) made or held prisoner, esp. in war 4) kept in confinement or restraint: captive animals[/ex] 5) enslaved by love, beauty,… …   From formal English to slang

  • Captive — Cap tive, a. 1. Made prisoner, especially in war; held in bondage or in confinement. [1913 Webster] A poor, miserable, captive thrall. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated. [1913 Webster] Even in so short a space, my… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Captive — Cap tive, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Captived}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Captiving}.] To take prisoner; to capture. [1913 Webster] Their inhabitans slaughtered and captived. Burke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Captive — Cap tive, n. [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. [1913 Webster] Then, when I am thy captive, talk… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Captived — Captive Cap tive, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Captived}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Captiving}.] To take prisoner; to capture. [1913 Webster] Their inhabitans slaughtered and captived. Burke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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