Link Centre Dictionary

ransom

ran·som

UK/ˈɹæn.səm/ US/ˈɹænsəm/ fairly common uk
noun (3) verb (1)

noun

1.

money demanded for the return of a captured person

Synonyms
2.

payment for the release of someone

3.

the act of freeing from captivity or punishment

verb

1.

exchange or buy back for money; under threat

Synonyms

Origin

From the Middle English ransoun, from the Old French raençon, from stem of Latin redēmptiō. Entered English ca. the 13th century. Doublet of redemption.

Phrases

  • hold for ransom
  • hold ransom
  • hold to ransom
  • king's ransom
  • Ransom County
  • ransom note effect
  • ransom strip

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.