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ransom

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈrænsəm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈrænsəm/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(ran′səm)

ran•som /ˈrænsəm/USA pronunciation n.

[uncountable] the release of a prisoner, kidnapped person, etc., for a demanded price.
the price paid or demanded for such freeing or releasing:[countable]a ransom of $30,000.

v. [~ + object]

to free or release someone held prisoner or kidnapped by paying a demanded price.

ran•som•er, n. [countable]

ran•som (ran′səm),USA pronunciation n.

the redemption of a prisoner, slave, or kidnapped person, of captured goods, etc., for a price.
the sum or price paid or demanded.
Religiona means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin, esp. the payment of a redemptive fine.

v.t.

to redeem from captivity, bondage, detention, etc., by paying a demanded price.
to release or restore on receipt of a ransom.
to deliver or redeem from punishment for sin.

Old French rançonner, derivative of rançon
Late Latin redēmptiōn- (stem of redēmptiō) redemption; (verb, verbal) Middle English ransounen
Old French rançon
(noun, nominal) Middle English ransoun 1150–1200

ran′som•er, n.

redeem.

Ran•som (ran′səm),USA pronunciation n.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ransom /ˈrænsəm/ n

the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price
the price demanded or stipulated for such a release
hold to ransom ⇒
- to keep (prisoners, property, etc) in confinement until payment for their release is made or received
- to attempt to force (a person or persons) to comply with one's demands
a king's ransom ⇒ a very large amount of money or valuables

vb (transitive)

to pay a stipulated price and so obtain the release of (prisoners, property, etc)
to set free (prisoners, property, etc) upon receiving the payment demanded
to redeem; rescue: to be ransomed from sin

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French ransoun, from Latin redemptiō a buying back, redemptionˈransomer n

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Ransom /ˈrænsəm/ n

John Crowe. 1888–1974, US poet and critic

'ransom' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Berlichingen - buy - hostage - kidnap - Louis IX - Malouf - Id al-Adha - king's ransom - nap - Olds - petnapping - redeem - rescue - Rogers - skyjack

In Lists: Series, Vocabulary, R, more...

Synonyms: redemption money, price, payment, payoff, bribe, more...

Collocations: [a high, a steep, a hefty, an extortionate] ransom, attempted to ransom the [captive, leader], the [kidnappers, terrorists] demanded (a) ransom, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "ransom" in the title:

5 million <dollar><dollars> ransom
a/the ransom
a/the ransom that was paid
Banded with a ransom of
Engineering Ransom Bioware
give as a sacrifice / give a ransom
held to ransom by/ held hostage to
how much did they ask for ransom
If the parents hadn't paid the ransom, they _______ seen the children again.
quieted a province...respect which is worth the ransom of many kings
ransom
Ransom [countable vs uncountable]
ransom drop
ransom note
ransom with states
she would hold herself ransom
stand their ransom
The kidnappers asked for a 2-million-euro ransom./ a ransom of 2 million euros/ 2 million euros a a ransom.
The Ransom of Red Chief
Till a ransom of 500 dollars
took deep offense at the small ransom
unless a ransom <was paid>
We might hand over one of the hostages after you gave us the ransom.

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⇱ ransom - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

ransom