n.1 a person seized or held as security for the fulfilment of a condition.
2 a pledge or security.
Phrases and idioms:
a hostage to fortune an acquisition, commitment, etc., regarded as endangered by unforeseen circumstances.
Derivatives:
hostageship n.
Etymology: ME f. OF (h)ostage ult. f. LL obsidatus hostageship f. L obses obsidis hostage