ransom
[ ran-suhm ]
/ ˈræn səm /
noun
the redemption of a prisoner, slave, or kidnapped person, of captured goods, etc., for a price.
the sum or price paid or demanded.
a means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin, especially the payment of a redemptive fine.
verb (used with object)
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.
Words nearby ransom
ranking member, rankism, rankle, rankshift, ransack, ransom, ransome, ransomware, rant, rant and rave, rantoul
Origin of ransom
1150–1200; (noun) Middle English ransoun < Old French rançon < Late Latin redēmptiōn- (stem of redēmptiō) redemption; (v.) Middle English ransounen < Old French rançonner, derivative of rançon
SYNONYMS FOR ransom
4 See redeem.
OTHER WORDS FROM ransom
ran·som·er, nounun·ran·somed, adjectiveDefinition for ransom (2 of 2)
Ransom
[ ran-suh m ]
/ ˈræn səm /
noun
John Crowe [kroh] /kroʊ/, 1888–1974, U.S. poet, critic, and teacher.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for ransom
British Dictionary definitions for ransom (1 of 2)
ransom
/ (ˈrænsəm) /
noun
verb (tr)
Derived forms of ransom
ransomer, nounWord Origin for ransom
C14: from Old French ransoun, from Latin redemptiō a buying back, redemption
British Dictionary definitions for ransom (2 of 2)
Ransom
/ (ˈrænsəm) /
noun
John Crowe . 1888–1974, US poet and critic
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Idioms and Phrases with ransom
ransom
see king's ransom.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.