ransom
(noun) the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
ransom
(noun) payment for the release of someone
ransom, ransom money
(noun) money demanded for the return of a captured person
ransom, redeem
(verb) exchange or buy back for money; under threat
Source: WordNet® 3.1
ransom (usually uncountable, plural ransoms)
Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration.
(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.
• "held for ransom" is much more common in the US, "held to ransom" in the UK.
ransom (third-person singular simple present ransoms, present participle ransoming, simple past and 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 exact a ransom for, or a payment on.
• Armons, Manors, Marons, Marson, Romans, Rosman, manors, morans, mornas, normas, ramson, sarmon
Ransom (plural Ransoms)
A surname.
• According to the 2010 United States Census, Ransom is the 2150th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 16871 individuals. Ransom is most common among White (53.33%) and Black/African American (37.98%) individuals.
• Armons, Manors, Marons, Marson, Romans, Rosman, manors, morans, mornas, normas, ramson, sarmon
Source: Wiktionary
Ran"som, n. Etym: [OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF. rançon, raençon, raançon, F. rançon, fr. L. redemptio, fr. redimere to redeem. See Redeem, and cf. Redemption.]
1. The release of a captive, or of captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom. Dryden.
2. The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods captured by an enemy; payment for freedom from restraint, penalty, or forfeit. Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems. Milton. His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty. Sir J. Davies/.
3. (O. Eng. Law)
Definition: A sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment. Blackstone. Ransom bill (Law), a war contract, valid by the law of nations, for the ransom of property captured at sea and its safe conduct into port. Kent.
Ran"som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ransoming.] Etym: [Cf. F. rançonner. See Ransom, n.]
1. To redeem from captivity, servitude, punishment, or forfeit, by paying a price; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy.
2. To exact a ransom for, or a payment on. [R.] 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.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
24 December 2024
(adverb) in an intuitive manner; “inventors seem to have chosen intuitively a combination of explosive and aggressive sounds as warning signals to be used on automobiles”
The first coffee-house in Mecca dates back to the 1510s. The beverage was in Turkey by the 1530s. It appeared in Europe circa 1515-1519 and was introduced to England by 1650. By 1675 the country had more than 3,000 coffee houses, and coffee had replaced beer as a breakfast drink.
