GRE Word List

HOSTAGE

a person held by one party in a conflict as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an agreement

The meaning of the word hostage is a person held by one party in a conflict as a pledge pending the fulfillment of an agreement.

Random words

WordMeaning
plightto put or give in pledge : engage
infestto spread or swarm in or over in a troublesome manner
surmisea thought or idea based on scanty evidence : conjecture
piebaldcomposed of incongruous parts
internecineof, relating to, or involving conflict within a group
charlatanquack
marsupialany of an order (Marsupialia) of mammals comprising kangaroos, wombats, bandicoots, opossums, and related animals that do not develop a true placenta and that usually have a pouch on the abdomen of the female which covers the teats and serves to carry the young
phoenixa legendary bird which according to one account lived 500 years, burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive from the ashes to live another period
retractto draw back or in
blasphemythe act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God