ransom : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: ransom	by the DICT Development Group
5 results for ransom
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
ransom n money demanded for the return of a captured person [syn: ransom, ransom money] payment for the release of someone the act of freeing from captivity or punishment v exchange or buy back for money; under threat [syn: ransom, redeem]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Ransom \Ran"som\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ransomed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ransoming}.] [Cf. F. ran[cced]onner. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Ransom \Ran"som\, n. [OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF. ran[cced]on, raen[cced]on, raan[cced]on, F. ran[cced]on, 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) 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.
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Ransom, IL (village, FIPS 62757) Location: 41.15807 N, 88.65527 W Population (1990): 438 (165 housing units) Area: 2.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 60470 Ransom, KS (city, FIPS 58500) Location: 38.63635 N, 99.93199 W Population (1990): 386 (207 housing units) Area: 0.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 67572
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Ransom the price or payment made for our redemption, as when it is said that the Son of man "gave his life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28; comp. Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:23, 24; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5: Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19. In all these passages the same idea is expressed). This word is derived from the Fr. rancon; Lat. redemptio. The debt is represented not as cancelled but as fully paid. The slave or captive is not liberated by a mere gratuitous favour, but a ransom price has been paid, in consideration of which he is set free. The original owner receives back his alienated and lost possession because he has bought it back "with a price." This price or ransom (Gr. lutron) is always said to be Christ, his blood, his death. He secures our redemption by the payment of a ransom. (See {REDEMPTION}.)