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Captive vs Incarcerate - What's the difference?

captive | incarcerate |

As verbs the difference between captive and incarcerate

is that captive is while incarcerate is to lock away; to imprison, especially for breaking the law.

captive

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=When Timothy and Julia hurried up the staircase to the bedroom floor, where a considerable commotion was taking place, Tim took Barry Leach with him. He had him gripped firmly by the arm, since he felt it was not safe to let him loose, and he had no immediate idea what to do with him. The captive made no resistance […].}}
  • One held prisoner.
  • (figurative) One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
  • Adjective

    (-)
  • Held prisoner; not free; confined.
  • * Milton
  • A poor, miserable, captive thrall.
  • Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words.
  • Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.
  • captive''' chains; '''captive hours

    incarcerate

    English

    Verb

    (incarcerat)
  • To lock away; to imprison, especially for breaking the law.
  • * 2013 September 23, Masha Gessen, " Life in a Russian Prison," New York Times (retrieved 24 September 2013):
  • Tolokonnikova has also been an effective public speaker even while incarcerated , but she has spoken out on politics and freedom in general rather than prisoners’ rights.
  • To confine; to shut up or enclose; to hem in.
  • Usage notes

    As a Latinate term, somewhat formal, compared to imprison.

    Synonyms

    * imprison * jail

    Derived terms

    * incarceration