A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Obses (ob-seez) is a Latin word that refers to a person who is taken as a hostage during a time of war. The plural form of obses is obsides.

Example: During the war, the enemy army took several obsides to ensure that their demands were met.

Explanation: This example illustrates how obses were used as a means of leverage during wartime. The enemy army took hostages to ensure that their demands were met, and the hostages were referred to as obsides.