hostage (age as Ig), ostage

[O. Fr. host age (Fr. ôtage ); from Low Lat. * obsidaticum, from obsidatus=the condition of a hostage; from Lat. obses (gen. obsidis )=a hostage, one who remains or is left with the enemy; obsidio to sit, to remain.] A person given in pledge or security for the performance of certain conditions, or for the safety of others. "Two of our people might be left ashore as hostages." -Cook: First Voyage , bk. iii., ch. viii.