Hostaged: meaning, definitions and examples

🔒
Add to dictionary

hostaged

 

[ˈhoʊstɪdʒd ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

taken as hostage

The term 'hostaged' refers to the act of taking someone captive or as a hostage, usually in the context of a crime or to exert pressure on someone. It implies that the person taken is used as leverage to achieve a specific goal, often involving demands or negotiations.

Synonyms

captured, held captive, taken prisoner.

Examples of usage

  • The bank robbers hostaged the employees during the heist.
  • The terrorists hostaged several tourists to gain attention.
  • They were hostaged in the hotel for several days.
  • The political activists had hostaged the government officials.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from 'hostage', which has roots in the Old French term 'ostage', meaning a person given as security.
  • Historically, hostages were often members of the elite class given to ensure peace between warring factions.

Legal Aspects

  • Taking a person hostage is a serious crime, often categorized under kidnapping laws.
  • Laws regarding hostage situations have evolved, with international treaties promoting the protection of hostages in conflict.

Psychology

  • Hostage situations can lead to severe psychological stress for those taken, including trauma and long-lasting emotional effects.
  • Understanding captors' motivations can help in resolving conflicts without violence.

Pop Culture

  • Films and television shows often portray hostage situations, from thrilling rescue missions to deep psychological dramas examining the dynamics between captors and victims.
  • One of the most famous movies featuring hostages is 'Dog Day Afternoon', based on a true story of a bank robbery that turned into a hostage crisis.

Historical Events

  • The Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979 involved 52 American diplomats and citizens held for 444 days at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
  • Numerous rebellions throughout history have involved hostages as bargaining chips to negotiate terms of peace or surrender in conflict.

Translations

Translations of the word "hostaged" in other languages:

🇵🇹 refém

🇮🇳 बंदूक के जरिए बंधक

🇩🇪 Geisel

🇮🇩 sandera

🇺🇦 заручник

🇵🇱 zakładnik

🇯🇵 人質

🇫🇷 otage

🇪🇸 rehén

🇹🇷 rehine

🇰🇷 인질

🇸🇦 رهينة

🇨🇿 rukojmí

🇸🇰 rukojemník

🇨🇳 人质

🇸🇮 talec

🇮🇸 gísl

🇰🇿 босқа

🇬🇪 ტყვე

🇦🇿 təqsir

🇲🇽 rehén