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
syllogisma deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion (as in "every virtue is laudable; kindness is a virtue; therefore kindness is laudable")
provenanceorigin
courtthe residence or establishment of a sovereign or similar dignitary
appendattach
withstandto stand up against : oppose with firm determination
pretexta purpose or motive alleged or an appearance assumed in order to cloak the real intention or state of affairs
perfunctorycharacterized by routine or superficiality : mechanical
laggardlagging or tending to lag : slow especially compared to others of the same kind
distraughtagitated with doubt or mental conflict or pain
queerdiffering in some way from what is usual or normal : odd