Nearby Words

captained

[kap-tuhn, -tin] Origin

cap·tain

[kap-tuhn, -tin]
noun
1.
a person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader.
2.
an officer ranking in most armies above a first lieutenant and below a major.
3.
an officer in the U.S. Navy ranking above a commander and below a rear admiral or a commodore.
4.
a military leader.
5.
an officer in the police department, ranking above a lieutenant and usually below an inspector.
EXPAND
6.
an officer of the fire department, usually in command of a company, ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief or assistant chief.
7.
the commander of a merchant vessel. Compare staff captain.
8.
the pilot of an airplane.
9.
a local official in a political party responsible for organizing votes on a ward or precinct level.
10.
Sports. the field leader of a team: The captain of the home team elected to receive on the kickoff.
11.
a person of great power and influence, especially based on economic wealth.
14.
South Midland and Southern U.S. an unofficial title of respect for a man (sometimes used humorously or ironically).
COLLAPSE
verb (used with object)
15.
to lead or command as a captain.

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Captained is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.

Origin:
1325–75; Middle English capitain < Anglo-French capitain, captayn < Late Latin capitāneus chief, equivalent to capit- (stem of caput) head + -ān(us) -an + -eus -eous

sub·cap·tain, noun
un·cap·tained, adjective
un·der·cap·tain, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

captain
late 14c., "one who stands at the head of others," from O.Fr. capitaine, from L.L. capitaneus "chief," n. use of adj. capitaneus "prominent, chief," from L. caput (gen. capitis) "head" (see head). Military sense of "officer who commands a company" (rank between major and lieutenant)
EXPAND
is from 1560s; naval sense of "officer who commands a man-of-war" is from 1550s, extended to "master or commander of a vessel of any kind" by 1704. Sporting sense is first recorded 1823.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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