Inmate vs Captive - What's the difference?
inmate | captive |
A person confined to an institution such as a prison (as a convict) or hospital (as a patient)
A person who occupies or dwells within a dwelling-house. The word came to be used to refer to temporary inhabitants such as guests in a hotel, students in an on-campus dormitory, patients in a hospital, or prisoners.
One who has been captured or is otherwise confined.
* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
, chapter=19 One held prisoner.
(figurative) One charmed or subdued by beauty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.
Held prisoner; not free; confined.
* Milton
Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
* Shakespeare
Of or relating to bondage or confinement; serving to confine.
As nouns the difference between inmate and captive
is that inmate is a person confined to an institution such as a prison (as a convict) or hospital (as a patient while captive is one who has been captured or is otherwise confined.As an adjective captive is
held prisoner; not free; confined.inmate
English
Noun
(en noun)Usage notes
Perhaps around 1970, television journalists began to use the word as a euphemism for "prisoner", and today perhaps many young people cannot remember that it ever had any other meaning.Anagrams
* *captive
English
Noun
(en noun)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 […].}}
Adjective
(-)- A poor, miserable, captive thrall.
- Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart / Grossly grew captive to his honey words.
- captive''' chains; '''captive hours
