Ransom
['ræns(ə)m] or ['rænsəm]
Definition
(noun.) the act of freeing from captivity or punishment.
(noun.) payment for the release of someone.
(noun.) money demanded for the return of a captured person.
(verb.) exchange or buy back for money; under threat.
Typed by Arlene--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom.
(n.) 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.
(n.) 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.
(n.) 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.
(n.) To exact a ransom for, or a payment on.
Typed by Hester
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Price of redemption.[2]. Release, liberation, redemption.
v. a. [1]. Redeem.[2]. Rescue, liberate, deliver.
Typist: Melville
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Redeem, release, indemnify, emancipate, free, liberate, unfetter, redeem
ANT:Prosecute, indict, fine, mulct, forfeit, damnify
Editor: Rebekah
Definition
n. price paid for redemption from captivity or punishment: release from captivity: atonement: expiation.—v.t. to redeem from captivity punishment or ownership: (Shak.) to set free for a price: (Shak.) to expiate.—adj. Ran′somable.—n. Ran′somer.—adj. Ran′somless without ransom: incapable of being ransomed.
Typist: Melba
Unserious Contents or Definition
To dream that a ransom is made for you, you will find that you are deceived and worked for money on all sides. For a young woman, this is prognostic of evil, unless some one pays the ransom and relieves her.
Edited by Debra
Unserious Contents or Definition
n. The purchase of that which neither belongs to the seller nor can belong to the buyer. The most unprofitable of investments.
Checker: Velma
Examples
- The ransom must be paid by love and beauty, and in no other coin will I accept it. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard will not change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- I also detached a brigade under Ransom to Natchez, to garrison that place permanently. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- I pray thee be more conformable in this matter of my ransom. Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Call them pro-Germans, international financiers, or profiteers, and they will give you any ransom you choose to ask not to speak of them so harshly. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The emperor sued for pardon, and paid a great ransom. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- You are both rich, and can pay large ransoMs You scoundrel, you have been putting these brigand ideas into the old man's head. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- Speak, Jew--have I not ransomed thee from Sathanas? Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- This provoked the Seventh Crusade, the Crusade of St. Louis, King of France (Louis IX), who was taken prisoner in Egypt and ransomed in 1250. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- On rising, another struck up a Methodist hymn, of which the burden was, The year of Jubilee is come,-- Return, ye ransomed sinners, home. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Edited by Bessie