ransom

[ ran-suhm ]
/ ˈræn səm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ransom ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM ransom

ran·som·er, nounun·ran·somed, adjective

Words nearby ransom

ranking member, rankism, rankle, rankshift, ransack, ransom, ransome, ransomware, rant, rant and rave, rantoul

Definition for ransom (2 of 2)

Ransom
[ ran-suh m ]
/ ˈræn səm /

noun

John Crowe [kroh] /kroʊ/,1888–1974, U.S. poet, critic, and teacher.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to ransom

redemption, price, release, compensation, deliverance, bribe, payoff, payment, rescue, expiation, regain, recover, deliver, free, redeem, extricate, manumit, save, liberate, emancipate

Example sentences from the Web for ransom

British Dictionary definitions for ransom (1 of 2)

ransom
/ (ˈrænsəm) /

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of ransom

ransomer, noun

Word 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.