hostage

created by ToiletDuk
(person) by BaronCarlos (3 y) (print)   (I like it!) Sat Nov 13 1999 at 9:18:07
Hostages tend to be a gamble. They provide saftey from forces that wish to thwart your agenda. But, on the same hand, they are a liability and are now extra baggage. Hostages are most usefull if the person holding the hostages does not wish to go anywhere.
(definition) by Webster 1913 (print) Wed Dec 22 1999 at 0:12:36

Hos"tage (?), n. [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F. otage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L. hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See Host a landlord.]

A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released.

Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight. Shak.

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune. Bacon.

 

© Webster 1913.

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