Definition of hostage

The term "hostage" derives from the medieval practice of "hosting," which involved offering a valued person as a guarante­ed against harm in a dispute between feuding parties or during negotiations. This person, called a "hostage," was held captive until the terms of the agreement between the parties were fulfilled. Originally, the practice of hostaging was not overtly political but rather a traditional way of resolving disputes between families or tribes. However, during medieval times, it evolved into a political tool used by kings and lords to secure agreements, guarantees of loyalty, or ransoms from powerful adversaries. The word "hostage" first appeared in the English language in the mid-14th century, as an Anglo-French loanword meaning "a person taken as a guarantee of faithful conduct." The term gained wider usage during the Hundred Years' War, as both sides resorted to this tactic to extract concessions or to simply prevent the other party from causing mischief. Over time, the meaning of the word "hostage" broadened to include individuals who were forcibly and unjustly detained by hostile forces, often with the intention of using them as leverage to achieve political goals or for ransom. The term also came to include civilian populations living in areas where there's conflict, where they become pawns in the struggle between warring factions. In modern times, the term "hostage" continues to be used to describe individuals who are being held against their will, either as part of political negotiations or by terrorist groups who seek to affect political or social action through the use of violence. Despite its historical context, the word "hostage" remains laden with negative connotations, reflecting both its dark past and the ongoing humanitarian crises it continues to represent today.