ransom

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English noun ranso(u)n, rançoun, from Old French rançon, reançon from Late Latin redēmptiōn- (stem of redēmptiō ) redemption; verb derivative of the noun

synonym study for ransom

4. See redeem.

OTHER WORDS FROM ransom

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

Definition for ransom (2 of 2)

Ransom

[ ran-suhm ]

/ 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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for ransom

An organization that is able to rapidly restore or recreate its data is far better positioned to fend off demands for ransom.
The hacker ‘ceasefire’ with hospitals is over—and that should terrify us|jakemeth|December 9, 2020|Fortune
By targeting providers with attacks that scramble and lock up data until victims pay a ransom, hackers can demand thousands or millions of dollars and wreak havoc until they’re paid.
Hospitals fighting COVID face another challenge: Hackers|Verne Kopytoff|December 5, 2020|Fortune
A follow-up letter was strikingly like the ransom letter for the Beit paintings that would be sent a few weeks later.
‘The Woman Who Stole Vermeer’ revisits the strange tale of a British heiress who became a notorious art thief|Katharine Weber|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
It’s a type of malware that hackers use to restrict access to data or machines until they’re paid ransoms that can run into the tens of millions of dollars.
How officials are protecting the election from ransomware hackers|Bobbie Johnson|October 15, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Specifically, he could trigger the coffee maker to turn on the burner, dispense water, spin the bean grinder, and display a ransom message, all while beeping repeatedly.
This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through October 3)|Singularity Hub Staff|October 3, 2020|Singularity Hub
The earl was killed in battle and Marshal captured, but he would later be ransomed by the queen herself.
England’s Greatest Knight Puts ‘Game of Thrones’ to Shame|William O’Connor|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The wife, after being kept in captivity for a time, was ransomed.
Myths And Legends Of Our Own Land, Complete|Charles M. Skinner
On the 9th of January the King died, and "the ransomed land mourned its sovereign as with one heart."
Julia Ward Howe|Laura E. Richards
The souldiors were ransomed, and the towne sacked, to the great gaine of the Englishmen.
Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (3 of 6): England (2 of 9)|Raphael Holinshed
It had been our bête noire from the time five dollars and fifty cents ransomed it at Shasta.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 81, July, 1864|Various
The first-born of men and cattle belong to the priesthood, and must be ransomed by the payment of a sum of money.
Creed And Deed|Felix Adler

British Dictionary definitions for ransom (1 of 2)

ransom

/ (ˈrænsəm) /

noun

the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price

the price demanded or stipulated for such a release

rescue or redemption of any kind

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

verb (tr)

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; rescueChrist ransomed men from sin

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.

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ransom

noun

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Origin of ransom

synonym study for ransom

OTHER WORDS FROM ransom

Definition for ransom (2 of 2)

noun

Example sentences from the Web for ransom

British Dictionary definitions for ransom (1 of 2)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of ransom

Word Origin for ransom

British Dictionary definitions for ransom (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with ransom

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

ransom

noun

verb (used with object)

SYNONYMS FOR ransom

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Origin of ransom

synonym study for ransom

OTHER WORDS FROM ransom

Definition for ransom (2 of 2)

noun

Words related to ransom

Example sentences from the Web for ransom

British Dictionary definitions for ransom (1 of 2)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of ransom

Word Origin for ransom

British Dictionary definitions for ransom (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with ransom