hos·tage /ˈhɑstɪʤ/
人質,抵押品
Hos·tage n. A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on the performance of which the person is to be released.
Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight. --Shak.
He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune. --Bacon.
◄ ►
hostage
n : a prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another
party will meet specified terms [syn: surety]
Hostage
a person delivered into the hands of another as a security for
the performance of some promise, etc. (2 Kings 14:14; 2 Chr.
25:24).