Hōs'tāge, n.

noun

n. [O. Fr. hostage, N. Fr. ôtage, Sp. hostaje, Pr. ostatje, It. ostaggio, and statico, L. Lat. hostagium, hostaticum, contracted from Lat. as if obsidaticum, from obsidatus: obses, obsidis, hostage.] A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, and on the performance of which the person is to be released.

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune. Bacon.