captive Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
    prisoner.
  2. noun an animal that is confined
  3. noun a person held in the grip of a strong emotion or passion
  4. adjective satellite being in captivity
    confined; jailed; imprisoned.
  5. adjective satellite giving or marked by complete attention to
    enwrapped; engrossed; absorbed; wrapped; intent.
    • that engrossed look or rapt delight
    • then wrapped in dreams
    • so intent on this fantastic...narrative that she hardly stirred"- Walter de la Mare
    • rapt with wonder
    • wrapped in thought

WordNet

Cap"tive noun
Etymology
L. captivus, fr. capere to take: cf. F. captif. See Caitiff.
Definitions
  1. A prisoner taken by force or stratagem, esp., by an enemy, in war; one kept in bondage or in the power of another.
    Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains. Milton.
  2. One charmed or subdued by beaty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
Cap"tive adjective
Definitions
  1. Made prisoner, especially in war; held in bondage or in confinement.
    A poor, miserable, captive thrall. Milton.
  2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
    Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart Grossly grew captive to his honey words. Shak.
  3. Of or pertaining to bondage or confinement; serving to confine; as, captive chains; captive hours.
Cap"tive transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Captived ; present participle & verbal noun Captiving
Definitions
  1. To take prisoner; to capture.
    Their inhabitans slaughtered and captived. Burke.

Webster 1913