captain
captain
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "captain" is /ˈkæp.tɪn/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
Cap-: /kæp/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
-tain: /tɪn/
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/n/ - alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: captain
Plural Noun: captains
Possessive Singular Noun: captain's
Possessive Plural Noun: captains'
Verb (base form): captain
Verb (third-person singular present): captains
Verb (present participle): captaining
Verb (past tense/past participle): captained
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The person in command of a ship, aircraft, or commercial airliner.
Synonyms: commander, master, skipper, pilot
Antonyms: crew member, subordinate, passenger
Definition 2: The leader of a team or group, especially in sports, who is responsible for directing strategy and representing the team.
Synonyms: leader, chief, head, manager, ringleader
Antonyms: follower, team member, subordinate
Definition 3: A rank in the armed forces, typically above lieutenant and below major, signifying a mid-level officer.
Synonyms: officer (general term), commander (in a military context)
Antonyms: private, recruit, cadet (referring to lower ranks)
Definition 4: An informal address for a male, often used respectfully or as a form of address by service staff.
Synonyms: sir, boss (informal)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a form of address)
Verb
Definition 1: To act as the leader or commander of a ship, aircraft, or team.
Synonyms: lead, command, head, manage, direct, pilot
Antonyms: follow, serve, obey, assist
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness..." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859 - While not directly using "captain," many classic novels, especially adventure or historical fiction, feature the role of a ship's captain prominently, e.g., Captain Ahab in Moby Dick by Herman Melville).
"The captain ordered all hands on deck as the storm intensified." (Fictional example consistent with common book themes)
Newspapers:
"Manchester United's new captain, Bruno Fernandes, expressed optimism for the upcoming season in a recent press conference." (The Guardian)
"Authorities are investigating the cargo ship incident after the captain failed to respond to distress calls." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"What it's like to be a female airline captain in a male-dominated industry." (CNN Travel)
"The Golden State Warriors' veteran point guard will captain the team once again, aiming for another championship run." (ESPN.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Captain America: Civil War" (Marvel Studios, 2016) - The title itself uses "Captain" as part of a superhero's name, signifying leadership and a military-like role.
Television Series: "Star Trek: The Original Series" features James T. Kirk as the Captain of the USS Enterprise, making crucial decisions and leading his crew through space. (Paramount Television, 1966-1969)
Video Games: In games like "Call of Duty," players often encounter characters with the rank of "Captain," who issue orders and lead combat missions. (Activision, various release dates)
Music: "O Captain! My Captain!" is a famous poem by Walt Whitman, often sung or recited, mourning the death of Abraham Lincoln, where Lincoln is metaphorically referred to as a ship's captain. (1865)
General Public Discourse:
"Could you please ask the captain for an extra blanket?" (Heard on an airplane, referring to a flight attendant)
"Our team lost, but our captain played an amazing game despite the odds." (A fan discussing a sports match)
"Good morning, captain!" (A common informal greeting from a server to a customer in some restaurant settings)
"He's the undisputed captain of industry in this region." (Referring to a prominent business leader)
10 Quotes Using Captain
"O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done." (Walt Whitman)
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." (William Ernest Henley)
"No captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy." (Horatio Nelson)
"If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever." (Thomas Aquinas)
"We have met the enemy and they are ours." (Oliver Hazard Perry, referencing his victory dispatch in the War of 1812)
"Science is the captain, and practice the soldiers." (Leonardo da Vinci)
"Every government has as much of a duty to avoid war as a ship's captain has to avoid a shipwreck." (Guy de Maupassant)
"My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my soul; I am only its noisiest passenger." (Aldous Huxley)
"The captain goes down with the ship." (Traditional maritime saying)
"A captain who does not know where he wants to sail, there is no wind on Earth that will bring him there." (Ami Ayalon)
Etymology
The word "captain" has a clear and interesting journey through languages!
It comes from the Middle English word "capitane," which was used during the period of roughly 1150 to 1500.
This "capitane" was borrowed from Old French "capitaine."
The French word, in turn, came from Late Latin "capitaneus," which meant "chief" or "principal" (as an adjective) and "chief" or "headman" (as a noun).
Ultimately, the root of "captain" traces back to the very old Latin word "caput," which means "head."
So, the original idea behind "captain" was literally someone who is the "head" or the "chief" of a group. The first known use in English (around the late 14th century, specifically around 1380 by John Wyclif) reflected this initial meaning of "a leader, chief, or one who stands at the head of others." Over time, its use narrowed and specialized to refer to leaders of ships, military units, and sports teams, but the core meaning of "head" or "leader" has remained.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Captain
Captain of industry: A leading and highly successful businessperson.
Captain of the ship: The person in overall command or in charge of an organization or situation.
Go down with the ship (like a captain): To remain with something, typically a failing enterprise, until the very end.
Captain's call: A decision made by the leader, often on the spot and with authority.
Captain of my soul: A phrase emphasizing personal control over one's own destiny (from William Ernest Henley's poem).
The captain is always right: An idiom implying that the leader's decisions should not be questioned.
To captain a team/vessel: To lead or be in command of a team or ship.
Captain's table: A special table on a ship, often where the captain dines with important guests.
Captain's curse: (Lesser-known) A supposed string of bad luck following a captain's unpopular decision.
Playing the captain: (Original) Acting like you're in charge when you're not.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of captain from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
