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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025ran•som /ˈrænsəm/USA pronunciation
n.
- [uncountable] the release of a prisoner, kidnapped person, etc., for a demanded price.
- the price paid or demanded for such freeing or releasing:[countable]a ransom of $30,000.
v. [~ + object]
- to free or release someone held prisoner or kidnapped by paying a demanded price.
ran•som•er, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025ran•som
(ran′səm),USA pronunciation n.
- the redemption of a prisoner, slave, or kidnapped person, of captured goods, etc., for a price.
- the sum or price paid or demanded.
- Religiona means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin, esp. the payment of a redemptive fine.
v.t.
- 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.
- Old French rançonner, derivative of rançon
- Late Latin redēmptiōn- (stem of redēmptiō) redemption; (verb, verbal) Middle English ransounen
- Old French rançon
- (noun, nominal) Middle English ransoun 1150–1200
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged deliverance, liberation, release.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See redeem.
Ran•som
(ran′səm),USA pronunciation n.
John Crowe
(krō),USA pronunciation 1888–1974, U.S. poet, critic, and teacher.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ransom / ˈrænsəm/ - the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price
- the price demanded or stipulated for such a release
- 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
(transitive)- 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; rescue: to be ransomed from sin
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French ransoun, from Latin redemptiō a buying back, redemptionˈransomer Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Ransom / ˈrænsəm/ - John Crowe. 1888–1974, US poet and critic
'ransom' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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