captivity

/kæp'tiviti/

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Word: Captivity

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Captivity means the state of being held or confined against one’s will. It can refer to animals being kept in a zoo or people being imprisoned.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "captivity" when talking about someone or something that is not free and is being kept in a specific place, whether it’s a person in jail or an animal in a cage.

Examples:

1. Basic example: "The bird lived in captivity in the zoo for many years."
2. Contextual example: "During the war, many soldiers were taken as prisoners and held in captivity."

Advanced Usage:

• In literature, "captivity" can also symbolize a lack of freedom in a broader sense, such as emotional or social confinement.

Word Variants:

• Captive (adjective): Describes someone or something that is held in captivity. Example: "The captive animal looked sad."
• Captivate (verb): To attract and hold the interest or attention of someone. Example: "The story captivated the audience."

Different Meanings:

• Captivity can refer not just to physical imprisonment but also to figurative situations where someone feels trapped in a relationship, job, or circumstance.

Synonyms:

• Imprisonment
• Confinement
• Enclosure
• Detention

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There aren't many specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "captivity," but you might hear phrases like "break free from captivity," which means to escape from a situation where one feels trapped.

Summary:

Captivity is an important word that describes a state of being restricted or held against one’s will, whether by force or circumstance.

Academic

Noun

1. the state of being a slave
   • So every bondman in his own hand bears the power to cancel his captivity--Shakespeare
2. the state of being imprisoned
   • he was held in captivity until he died
   • the imprisonment of captured soldiers
   • his ignominious incarceration in the local jail
   • he practiced the immurement of his enemies in the castle dungeon

Synonyms

• enslavement
• imprisonment
• incarceration
• immurement