Dictionary

ransom

see also: Ransom

Pronunciation

Noun

ransom (uncountable)

Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
They were held for two million dollars ransom.
They were held to ransom.
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book XII:
  Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.
- His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty.
- 2010, Caroline Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad:
  As rich as was the ransom Priam paid for Hektor, Hermes says, his remaining sons at Troy “'would give three times as much ransom / for you, who are alive, were Atreus' son Agamemnon / to recognize you.'”
The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration.
prisoners hopeless of ransom
(historical, legal, UK) 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.

Translations

Verb

ransom (ransoms, present participle ransoming; past ransomed, past participle ransomed)

(14th century) To deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties.
To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment.
to ransom prisoners from an enemy
To exact a ransom for, or a payment on.
Such lands as he had rule of he ransomed them so grievously, and would tax the men two or three times in a year. — Berners.

Translations

Translations

Ransom

Proper noun

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