HOLDS CAPTIVE Meaning and
Definition
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"Holds captive" refers to the act of keeping someone or something forcibly confined or under control against their will. This can involve physical or psychological restraint, where one person or entity exercises authority or power over another, restricting their freedom or movement.
In the literal sense, to "hold captive" typically applies to imprisoning or confining individuals, such as kidnapping victims or prisoners of war, who are held in a controlled environment and denied personal autonomy. This condition often involves isolation, limited access to resources, and strict monitoring to prevent escape.
The metaphorical usage of "holds captive" extends beyond physical confinement and can describe situations where someone or something dominates or controls someone's thoughts, emotions, or actions. In this context, a person, belief, emotion, addiction, or even a place can be said to "hold captive" another person's mind, heart, or attention, exerting strong influence over their decisions and actions.
This expression carries a connotation of being powerless or trapped, as the one held captive is subject to the will or control of another. Whether in a literal or metaphorical sense, the term "holds captive" signifies a state of being bound, restrained, or subjugated against one's wishes or without the ability to escape.
Common Misspellings for HOLDS CAPTIVE
- hold cative
- golds captive
- bolds captive
- nolds captive
- jolds captive
- uolds captive
- yolds captive
- hilds captive
- hklds captive
- hllds captive
- hplds captive
- h0lds captive
- h9lds captive
- hokds captive
- hopds captive
- hoods captive
- holss captive
- holxs captive
- holcs captive
- holfs captive
Etymology of HOLDS CAPTIVE
The word "holds captive" consists of two elements: "holds" and "captive".
- "Hold" in this context means to have or keep someone or something in one's grasp, possession, or control. It originates from the Old English word "healdan", which means "to cling to" or "to grasp". Over time, the word evolved in Middle English to "holden" and later to "hold".
- "Captive" refers to someone or something that is imprisoned, confined, or under someone else's control. It comes from the Latin word "captivus", which means "taken as a prisoner" or "captured". In turn, the Latin term is derived from "captus", the past participle of "capere", meaning "to take" or "to seize".
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