captive (kaptiv)

and n. [In earlier E. caitiff, now with different sense (see caitiff ); =F. captif, fem. captive, OF. chetif, etc. (see caitiff ), = Pr. captiu, caitiu = OCat.caitiu = OSp. captivo, Sp. cautivo = Pg. cativo, captivo = It. cattivo, When many times the captive Grecians fall, Even in the fan and wind of your fair sword, You bid then rise and live. Shak., T. and C., v. 3. The captive bird that sings within thy bow'r. Pope , Summer, 1. 46. 2. Bound or held by other than physical means, as by the ties of love or other pa ion; captivated. My woman's heart Gro ly grew captive to his honey words. Shak., Rich. III., iv. 1. 3. Holding in confinement: as, captive chains. -Captive balloon. See balloon1. - To take captive, to capture; make a prisoner of. II. n. 1. One who is taken prisoner, especially a prisoner taken in war by an enemy; one taken and kept in confinement. Like captives bound to a triumphant car. Shak ., 1 Hen. VI., i. 1. 2. Figuratively, one who is charmed or subdued by beauty or excellence, by the lower pa ions of his own nature, or by the wiles of others; one whose affections are seized, or who is held by strong ties of love or any other pa ion. Yet hath he been my captive and my slave, And begg'd for that which thou unask'd shalt have. Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 101. =Syn. 1. Prisoner, Captive. The word prisoner emphasizes the idea of restraint of liberty, but is not rhetorical or especially a ociated with feeling: the prisoner of war and the prisoner for crime may be shut up in a prison, kept by guards within defined limits, or given a restricted liberty on parole. The word captive suggests being completely in the power of another, whether confined or not; it has come to be a rhetorical word, suggesting helple ne and resulting unhappine . Captured soldiers under guard are strictly prisoners, but are often and properly called cap tives. When we speak of a captive bird, we suggest its longing for liberty. The rights and interests of a prison er are likely to be respected, but the captive may be abused or even sometimes sold into slavery. See captivity. Come, Sleep: O Sleep! the certain knot of peace, The baiting-place of wit, the balm of woe, The poor man's wealth, the prisoner's release, Th' indifferent judge between the high and low. Sir P. Sidney, Astrophel and Stella, st. 39. Go, see the captive bartered as a slave! Crushed till his high, heroic spirit bleeds. Rogers , Pleasures of Memory, ii, captive (kap'tiv), v . t .; pret. and pp. captived , ppr. captiving . [= F.captiver = Pr. captivar = IMG:content-3107.png:[blocks in formation] 2. To captivate; insnare. [Rare.] Love now captiv'd his heart, which erst was free. Ford , Honour Triumphant, i. Beauty, which captives all things, sets me free. Dryden, Epistles, iii. 38. She who captived Anthony, The Serpent of old Nile. R. H. Stoddard , Shakespeare. captivity (kap-tiv'i-ti), n. [F. captivité Pr. captivitat = Sp. cautividad = Pg. cativeiro = It. cattività , captivita ( t- ) s , captivus , captive: see captive .] 1. The state of being a prisoner, or of coming into the power of an enemy by force or the fortune of war. And but for Owen Glen dower had been king, Who kept him in captivity till he died. Shak., 2 Hen. VI., ii. 2. 2. Subjection; the state of being under control; bondage; servitude. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Thou hast led captivity captive. 2 Cor. x. 5. Ps. lxviii, 18. 31. Captives collectively; a body of captives. When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. Ps. liii. 6. =Syn. Imprisonment, Captivity, Confinement, Incarcera tion, Immurement. There is the same distinction between imprisonment and captivity as between prisoner and tive. (See captive.) Confinement is the most general word for being kept within bounds against one's will, as by force or sickne ; we speak of solitary confinement, and, figuratively, of too great confinement (though voluntary) to one's books. Incarceration is the being put into a jail or prison; the word is rhetorical, suggesting ignominy, with narrow range and great safeguards against escape. Im murement, literally shutting within walls, is now freely figurative; in either sense it suggests depth of separation or seclusion from friends, home, or the world, and small likelihood of getting or coming out. (See servitude and serf.) Even like a man new haled from the rack, So fare my limbs with long imprisonment . Shak., 1 Hen. VI., ii. 5. IMG:content-3108.png:[blocks in formation]