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