Main Entry:

cap·tive

Pronunciation:

\ˈkap-tiv\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin captivus, from captus, past participle of capere

Date:

14th century

1 a: taken and held as or as if a prisoner of war b (1): kept within bounds : confined (2): of or relating to captive animals <captive breeding>2: held under control of another but having the appearance of independence ; especially : owned or controlled by another concern and operated for its needs rather than for an open market <a captive mine>3: being such involuntarily because of a situation that makes free choice or departure difficult <a captive audience>

— captive noun