captive

Where does the word "captive" come from? It comes from Latin capere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1400s).

Captive’s story begins in Latin: capere meant “to take, to seize.” The root of 'capture', 'captivate' and 'capable'. Within Latin, it grew into captivus by ancient. Taken prisoner, from capere. From there it passed into Old French as captif by medieval. Carried into French for a person held prisoner. It reached English by 1400s as captive. Settled as the English word for a person held prisoner. Today, captive means held prisoner or confined, unable to escape.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient capere "to take, to seize", the root of 'capture', 'captivate' and 'capable'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient captivus "taken prisoner", taken prisoner, from capere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval captif "a person held prisoner", carried into French for a person held prisoner.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s captive "a person held prisoner or confined", settled as the English word for a person held prisoner.