Ransom
/ˈɹæn.səm/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Money paid for the freeing of a hostage. uncountable, usually
"They were held for two million dollars ransom."
- 2 the act of freeing from captivity or punishment wordnet
- 3 The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration. uncountable, usually
"prisoners hopeless of ransom"
- 4 payment for the release of someone wordnet
- 5 A sum paid for the pardon of some great offence and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. UK, historical, uncountable, usually
"punished with imprisonment and ransom at the King's will"
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- 6 money demanded for the return of a captured person wordnet
Verb
- 1 To deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties. obsolete
- 2 exchange or buy back for money; under threat wordnet
- 3 To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment.
"to ransom prisoners from an enemy"
- 4 To exact a ransom (payment) in exchange for the freedom of.
"Terrorists will continue to hold few detainees in undisclosed locations in order to ransom them for money or some other material profit, […]"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname. countable, uncountable
- 2 A place in the United States:; A village in Allen Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, named after Thomas E. G. Ransom. countable, uncountable
- 3 A place in the United States:; A minor city in Ness County, Kansas, also named after Thomas Ransom. countable, uncountable
- 4 A place in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Pike County, Kentucky. countable, uncountable
- 5 A place in the United States:; A township and unincorporated community therein, in Hillsdale County, Michigan, named after Epaphroditus Ransom. countable, uncountable
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- 6 A place in the United States:; An unincorporated community and township in Nobles County, Minnesota. countable, uncountable
- 7 A place in the United States:; A township and village therein, in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, named after Samuel Ransom. countable, uncountable
Example
More examples"The hijacker demanded a ransom of two million dollars."
Etymology
From the Middle English ransoun, from the Old French raençon, from stem of Latin redēmptiō. Entered English ca. the 13th century. Doublet of redemption.