hostage vs risk

hostage

noun
  • Something that constrains one's actions because it is at risk. 

  • The condition of being held as security or to compel someone else to act or not act in a particular way. 

  • A person seized in order to compel another party to act (or refrain from acting) in a certain way, because of the threat of harm to the hostage. 

  • A person given as a pledge or security for the performance of the conditions of a treaty or similar agreement, such as to ensure the status of a vassal. 

  • One who is compelled by something, especially something that poses a threat; one who is not free to choose their own course of action. 

verb
  • To hold (someone or something) hostage, especially in a way that constrains or controls the person or thing held, or in order to exchange for something else. 

  • To give (someone or something) as a hostage to (someone or something else). 

risk

noun
  • A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect). 

  • A possible adverse event or outcome. 

  • A borrower (such as a mortgage-holder or person with a credit card). 

  • An entity insured by an insurer. 

  • The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur. 

  • The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event. 

  • The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event. 

  • A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy. 

  • A financial product (typically an investment). 

verb
  • To incur risk as a result of (doing something). 

  • To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing. 

  • To incur risk of (something). 

How often have the words hostage and risk occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )