hostage

Where does the word "hostage" come from? It comes from Latin hostis, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Hostage’s story begins in Latin: hostis meant “an enemy, a stranger.” An enemy, a stranger, later a foreigner held as security. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as hostage. Carried into French for a person held as security for an agreement. It reached English by 1200s as hostage. Settled as the English word for a person held captive to compel an outcome. Today, hostage means a person held captive as security to compel an action from a third party.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient hostis "an enemy, a stranger", an enemy, a stranger, later a foreigner held as security.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval hostage "a person held as security", carried into French for a person held as security for an agreement.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s hostage "a person held captive to compel an outcome", settled as the English word for a person held captive to compel an outcome.