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.
The proper description of anyone who is currently being seen by an MHP. Regrettably, the full realization of this hostage-status rarely occurs until one suddenly finds himself struggling to survive an iatrogenic trauma. Be advised: these people can and do take prisoners-- on whatever whim they choose-- and submit their victims to unspeakable experiences.
a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified terms
a civilian caught in the line of fire, and held for some sick political or financial reason
a frozen piece which is threatened with capture
a person accepted as a pledge for the fulfillment of an agreement concluded between belligerents during the war, or in consequence of a war
a person held against their will who is then threatened by their captors in pursuit of a political or other objective
a person sometimes another entity which is held by a
A hostage is a person or entity (group, even pet) which is held by a captor, originally handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war, but in modern days more often seized by a criminal abductor in order to compel another party such as a relative, employer or government to act, or refrain from acting, in a particular way, often under threat of serious physical harm to the hostage(s) after expiration of an ultimatum.