| 释义 |
cap·tive
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 |