Definitions for hostage
ˈhɒs tɪdʒhostage

hostage, surety(noun)
a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms

hostage(Noun)
A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released.
Etymology: From hostage (French: otage, from hoste or obsidanus.)

Hostage(noun)
a person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released
Etymology: [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F. tage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L. hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See Host a landlord.]

Hostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war. However, in contemporary usage, it means someone who is seized by a criminal abductor in order to compel another party such as a relative, employer, law enforcement, or government to act, or refrain from acting, in a particular way, often under threat of serious physical harm to the hostage after expiration of an ultimatum. A person who seizes one or more hostages is known as a hostage-taker; if the hostages are present voluntarily, then the receiver is known as a host.

Hostage
hos′tāj, n. one remaining with the enemy as a pledge for the fulfilment of the conditions of a treaty.—Hostages to fortune, a man's wife, children, &c. [O. Fr. hostage (Fr. ôtage)—Low L. obsidaticus—L. obses, obsidis, a hostage.]

hostage
A person held as a pledge that certain terms or agreements will be kept. (The taking of hostages is forbidden under the Geneva Conventions, 1949.)

hostage
A person given up to an enemy as a pledge or security for the performance of the articles of a treaty.

hostage
Song lyrics by hostage -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by hostage on the Lyrics.com website.

Nouns Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'hostage' in Nouns Frequency: #2812

Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of hostage in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of hostage in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Margaret Mead:
If I were to be taken hostage, I would not plead for release nor would I want my government to be blackmailed. I think certain government officials, industrialists and celebrated persons should make it clear they are prepared to be sacrificed if taken hostage. If that were done, what gain would there be for terrorists in taking hostages?
Mike Connors:
I have a knife, a bomb and a hostage. Bring it on. i was kind of in shock.
Nancy Pelosi:
The fact is, President Trump has chosen to hold hostage critical services for the health, safety and well-being of the American people and withhold the paychecks of 800,000 innocent workers across the nation, many of them veterans.
Tony Garces:
I took the gun away from a man who attempted to take others in the church hostage, he already fired off one shot and I wasn’t going to let him fire again.
Marwan Shehada:
Nusra wants recognition, they want to be seen both in and outside Syria as a partner so they can establish a lasting foothold in the country, they hope to be embraced by the Qataris in the same way other groups have. Hostage negotiations are a way to raise money but also to boost prestige.