\Hos"tage\, n. [OE. hostage, OF. hostage, ostage, F.
[^o]tage, LL. hostaticus, ostaticum, for hospitaticum, fr. L.
hospes guest, host. The first meaning is, the state of a
guest, hospitality; hence, the state of a hostage (treated as
a guest); and both these meanings occur in Old French. See
{Host} a landlord.]
A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of
the conditions of a treaty or stipulations of any kind, on
the performance of which the person is to be released.

      Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall
      talk before we fight.                    --Shak.

      He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to
      fortune.                                 --Bacon.