Because I have forgotten the English language...

[spark_of_chaos]

Dear flist, I need some help with wording! You know how in the Middle ages peace was sometimes ensured by the sides exchanging valuable people for a time, kin of the king or sometimes even the successor to the throne and such. What is this person called, the one being exchanged? We call it, quite literally, a guarantor for peace, but I can't for

Comments

[fresica]

Political hostage, or just hostage? That was usually just the stronger side taking a person of import from the weaker as a guest, however, ensuring that the latter wouldn't attempt to overthrow them. Fostering is a bit more polite, and two-sided, but it springs from the same practice.

[vaysh]

My research brings up "hostage for peace", but if there's a special term, Google didn't give it to me. :)

Etymology online says for hostage:
late 13c., from O.Fr. hostage "person given as security or hostage," either from hoste "guest" (see host (1)) via notion of "a lodger held by a landlord as security," or from L.L. obsidanus "condition of being held as security," from obses "hostage," from ob- "before" + base of sedere "to sit."

[cluegirl]

When I researched it, it was called "Fostering". This was, I suppose, meant as a means of diplomatically disguising the hostage situation under the guise of welcome. Still, that's what I used when I wrote Pink Slip, and my research supported the phrase.

[karaz]

peace offering is something sacrificed (even killed)/offered to an adversary in the hope of obtaining peace.

[akasha_lilian]

Oh hey, you're still alive and all. :D

The others have already contributed, so I'll go with that! ;-)

How's life? How's university? Any new fics you're working on?