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hostage

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

hos·tage / ˈhästij/ • n. a person seized or held as security for the fulfillment of a condition: the kidnapper had instructed the hostage's family to drop the ransom at noon. PHRASES: hold (or take) someone hostage seize and keep someone as a hostage: they were held hostage by armed rebels taken hostage at gunpoint. a hostage to fortune an act, commitment, or remark that is regarded as unwise because it invites trouble or could prove difficult to live up to: making objectives explicit is to give a hostage to fortune.

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"hostage." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"hostage." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hostage.html

"hostage." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-hostage.html

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hostage

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

hostage †handing over of a person as a pledge; person thus held in pledge. XIII. — (O)F. (h)ostage (mod. otage) :- Rom. *obsidāticum, f. late L. obsidōtus hostageship, f. obses, obsid- hostage, f. OB + *sed- SIT; see -AGE. The initial h is by assim. to HOST2.

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T. F. HOAD. "hostage." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "hostage." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-hostage.html

T. F. HOAD. "hostage." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-hostage.html

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hostage

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | Copyright

hostage n. a person seized and held as a pledge that certain terms or agreements will be kept.

According to the rules of the Geneva Conventions, the taking of hostages is a forbidden act.

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"hostage." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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"hostage." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-hostage.html

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hostage

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

hostage •passage •message, presage •sausage • dosage •misusage, usage •cartage •advantage, vantage •curettage • percentage • vestige •freightage • wastage •mintage, vintage •hermitage • baronetage • heritage •cottage, pottage, wattage •hostage •portage, shortage •outage • dotage • voltage • postage •anecdotage • footage • frontage •pilotage • parentage • Carthage •ravage, savage •salvage • selvedge • pavage • cleavage •lovage • language • sandwich •envisage, visage

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"hostage." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-hostage.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Hostage Situations in Detention Settings: Planning and Tactical Considerations Magazine article from: The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin; 10/1/2008
	Hostages Rescued In Colombia After Long Captivity Transcript from: NPR Tell Me More; 7/3/2008
	Hostage-taking tests allies; Abductions expose new holes in security. Abizaid... Newspaper article from: The Christian Science Monitor; 4/13/2004