captivity

Everyday

1. Captivity is the state of being kept in a place and not being free, like an animal in a zoo or a prisoner. tree →
2. In captivity means kept by people instead of living in the wild. tree →
3. Captivity can also mean being held completely by something pleasant, like a delightful story. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons pupils compare animals in captivity (zoos, aquariums, farms) with animals in the wild, and discuss how zoos help endangered species by breeding them. In history and stories prisoners are held in captivity and escape. Phrases: «in captivity», «bred in captivity», «released from captivity».

Examples

• Pandas are hard to breed in captivity. tree →
• The lion was born in captivity and has never seen the wild. tree →
• Some animals live longer in captivity than in the wild. tree →
• The prisoners were held in captivity for months. tree →
• The rescued turtle was released from captivity into the sea. tree →
• Should dolphins be kept in captivity? Discuss. tree →
• The present volume attempts to begin the pleasant captivity from the earliest years. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Opposite: freedom, in the wild. Adjective: captive; noun: captive (a prisoner), captor (the person who holds someone). Verb: capture.

In Jewish tradition

It means being carried away as prisoners from one's land, which is what exile is. It can also mean the people who were carried away, "the children of the captivity", who returned from Babylon.

Interpretation. Tradition sees captivity as a punishment spoken of in the Torah's warnings, with a promise that God will "turn" it and gather the people back. The prophets use "turn the captivity" to mean restoring the people's fortunes. This hope of return is a main thread of Jewish history.

Examples

• Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be thine; for they shall go into captivity. (Torah DEU.28.41, JPS 1917) tree →
• Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh; he hath given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, unto Sihon king of the Amorites. (Torah NUM.21.29, JPS 1917) tree →
• that then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. (Torah DEU.30.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the children of the captivity did so. (Writings EZR.10.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they dwelt in their stead until the captivity. (Writings 1CH.5.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• When I would turn the captivity of My people, (Prophets HOS.6.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable. Opposite: freedom, in the wild. Adjective: captive; noun: captive (a prisoner), captor (the person who holds someone). Verb: capture.