Officer alternatively taking prisoners (6)
I believe the answer is:
captor
'officer alternatively taking prisoners' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'officer alternatively' is the wordplay.
'officer' becomes 'capt' ().
'alternatively' becomes 'or'.
'capt'+'or'='CAPTOR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for captor that I've seen before include "Holder of a prisoner" , "To carp (anag)" , "Person who has taken another prisoner" , "kidnapper, perhaps" , "One who takes a prisoner" .)