ransom
Also found in: Thesaurus, Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
ran·som
(răn′səm)n.
1.
a. The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price.
b. The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
2. Christianity A redemption from sin and its consequences.
tr.v. ran·somed, ran·som·ing, ran·soms
1.
a. To obtain the release of by paying a certain price.
b. To release after receiving such a payment.
2. Christianity To deliver from sin and its consequences.
[Middle English raunson, raunsom, from Old French rançon, from Latin redēmptiō, redēmptiōn-, a buying back; see redemption.]
ran′som·er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ransom
(ˈrænsəm)n
1. the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price
2. the price demanded or stipulated for such a release
3. rescue or redemption of any kind
4. hold to ransom
a. to keep (prisoners, property, etc) in confinement until payment for their release is made or received
b. to attempt to force (a person or persons) to comply with one's demands
5. a king's ransom a very large amount of money or valuables
vb (tr)
6. to pay a stipulated price and so obtain the release of (prisoners, property, etc)
7. to set free (prisoners, property, etc) upon receiving the payment demanded
8. to redeem; rescue: Christ ransomed men from sin.
[C14: from Old French ransoun, from Latin redemptiō a buying back, redemption]
ˈransomer n
Ransom
(ˈrænsəm)n
(Biography) John Crowe. 1888–1974, US poet and critic
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ran•som
(ˈræn səm)n.
1. the redemption of a prisoner, kidnapped person, etc., for a price.
2. the price paid or demanded for such redemption.
3. deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin or the means for this, esp. the payment of a redemptive fine.
v.t. 4. to redeem from detention, bondage, etc., by paying a demanded price.
5. to deliver or redeem from punishment for sin.
[1150–1200; ransoun < Old French rançon]
Ran•som
(ˈræn səm)n.
John Crowe, 1888–1974, U.S. poet, critic, and teacher.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ransom
Past participle: ransomed
Gerund: ransoming
| Imperative |
|---|
| ransom |
| ransom |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  ransom - money demanded for the return of a captured personcost - the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor |
| 2. | ransom - payment for the release of someone | |
| 3. | ransom - the act of freeing from captivity or punishment | |
| Verb | 1. | ransom - exchange or buy back for money; under threat crime, criminal offence, criminal offense, law-breaking, offense, offence - (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act; "a long record of crimes" exchange, interchange, change - give to, and receive from, one another; "Would you change places with me?"; "We have been exchanging letters for a year" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
ransom
noun
2. release, rescue, liberation, redemption, deliverance the ransom of the victim
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
ransom
[ˈrænsəm]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
ransom
(ˈrӕnsəm) noun a sum of money etc paid for the freeing of a prisoner. They paid a ransom of $40,000; (also adjective) They paid $40,000 in ransom money.rescate
verb1. to pay money etc to free (someone). rescatar, pagar el rescate de alguien
2. to keep (a person) as a prisoner until a sum of money etc is paid for his release. exigir/imponer rescate
hold to ransom to keep (a person) as a prisoner until a sum of money etc is paid for his release. exigir rescate
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
ransom
→ rescateMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009