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captivus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word captivus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (capiō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [kapˈtiː.wʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [kapˈtiː.vus][1]

Forms

captīvus m (genitive captīvī, feminine captīva); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from ⟨captus⟩, the participle of capiō “to take”, with the suffix -īvus.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of prisoners of war.[2] Köbler's first source is Naevius, whom he dates c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant captured in war, taken prisoner, as in Plautus, and as a noun a captive, a prisoner of war.[2] In Cicero it was used of places and spoils taken in war, and in Varro of animals caught in hunting or fishing.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant captured, and as a noun a prisoner.[5] In Medieval Latin it came to mean wretched, the source of French chétif.[6][7] It survives in Italian cattivo “bad”, and through Old North French caitif it gave English caitiff about 1300; English captive came directly from Latin in the late 14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of prisoners.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English caitiff is recorded.[3]
  • late 14th century – English captive is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Taken prisoner; as a noun, a captive.[2]
  2. Taken in war.[2]
  3. Caught (in hunting).[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Wretched.[6]

Word family

  • captīva
  • captīvitas
  • captīvō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Captivus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/captivus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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