I. ˈkaptiv, -ēv noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin captivus, from captivus, adjective
1. : one captured : prisoner : one taken and held usually in confinement and especially by an enemy in war
2. : one captivated, dominated, or controlled
a captive to love
the politician seemed a captive of hidden interests
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin captivus, from captus (past participle of capere to take, seize) + -ivus -ive — more at heave
1.
a. : taken and held as prisoner especially by an enemy in war
captive knights
b. : confined : kept within bounds : caged
a captive bird
: fenced in
captive herds
c. : checked from free activity or course
a captive balloon riding on its cable
captive waters impounded by the dam
2. : indicative of or relative to a captive : making captive
captive hours
captive chains
3. : captivated, charmed , enchanted
her woman's heart captive to his blandishments
writing that holds the mind captive
4.
a. : owned or controlled by another concern and operated according to its needs or demands rather than for an open market
a captive coal mine
captive railroads
b. : dominated by a state, government, or philosophy alien to one's own often despite ostensible autonomy
captive states on the boundaries of the empire
: controlled by others despite semblance of independence
a captive candidate
5. : in a situation making departure or inattention difficult : obliged to stay within hearing of a speech or demonstration
a captive audience
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English captiven, from Late Latin captivare, from Latin captivus
1. archaic : capture
2. archaic : captivate