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| ran·som [ ránss'm ] |
noun (plural ran·soms) |
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| Definition: |
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1. money demanded for releasing captive: a sum of money demanded or paid for the release of somebody who is being held prisoner
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2. release of prisoner: the release of a prisoner in return for the payment of money
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3. deliverance: the act of saving somebody from an oppressed condition or dangerous situation through self-sacrifice
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literary
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transitive verb (past and past participle ran·somed, present participle ran·som·ing, 3rd person present singular ran·soms) |
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| Definition: |
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1. pay money for somebody's release: to obtain the release of somebody from captivity by paying money to the captor
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2. rescue or redeem somebody: to rescue or redeem somebody, especially by a self-sacrificing act, and especially from sin or its punishment
(
literary
)
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| [13th century. Via Old French ransoun< Latin redemption- (see redemption)] |
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  ran·som·er noun |
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a king's ransom a very large amount of money
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hold somebody for ransom
1. to hold somebody captive until a sum of money is paid for his or her release
2. to use threats to try to make somebody do what you want
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