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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Hostage \Hos"tage\, n. [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F.
[^o]tage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L.
hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a
guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as
a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See
{Host} a landlord.]
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.
[1913 Webster]

Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
And we shall talk before we fight. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to
fortune. --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]