different between captive vs henchman

English

Etymology

From Middle English captif; in turn ultimately from Latin capt?vus, probably through a borrowing from a Middle French intermediate. Doublet of caitiff.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kæpt?v/
• Hyphenation: cap?tive

Noun

captive (plural captives)

1. One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
2. One held prisoner.
3. (figuratively) One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.

Translations

Adjective

captive (not comparable)

1. Held prisoner; not free; confined.
2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
3. Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.

   captive chains; captive hours

Derived terms

• captive candidate

Translations

Verb

captive (third-person singular simple present captives, present participle captiving, simple past and past participle captived)

1. (transitive, archaic) To capture; to take captive.

French

Verb

captive

1. first-person singular present indicative of captiver
2. third-person singular present indicative of captiver
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of captiver
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of captiver
5. second-person singular imperative of captiver

Latin

Adjective

capt?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of capt?vus

Middle English

Noun

captive

1. Alternative form of captif

English

Etymology

From Middle English henxman (“page, attendant”), from Old English *hengstmann, *hengestmann (“groom”, literally “horseman”), from hengst, hengest (“stallion, horse, steed, gelding”) (from Proto-Germanic *hangistaz (“stallion”), from Proto-Indo-European *?an?est-, *kankest- (“horse”)) + mann (“man”). Cognate with archaic German Hengstmann (“a groom”), Icelandic hestamaður (“horseman, groom”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?nt?.m?n/

Noun

henchman (plural henchmen)

1. A loyal and trusted follower or subordinate.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:loyal follower

2. A person who supports a political figure chiefly out of selfish interests.
3. An assistant member of a criminal gang.
4. (obsolete) A page to a prince or other person of high rank.

Translations