ransom

plural ransoms

1. uncountableusuallyMoney paid for the freeing of a hostage.

   They were held to ransom.

   5 more examples

   They were held for two million dollars ransom.

   Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.

   1667, John Milton, “Book XII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty.

   1612, John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued

   "I'll give thee for my ransom the very best harnéss That either young or old in the world doth possess."

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 210

   As rich as was the ransom Priam paid for Hektor, Hermes says, his remaining sons at Troy “'would give three times as much ransom / for you, who are alive, were Atreus' son Agamemnon / to recognize you.'”

   2010, Caroline Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad

2. uncountableusuallyThe release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration.

   prisoners hopeless of ransom

   1 more example

   Till the fair slave be rendered to her sire; And ransom-free restored to his abode

   a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC

3. UKhistoricaluncountableusuallylawA sum paid for the pardon of some great offence and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.

   punished with imprisonment and ransom at the King's will

   1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC

present singular third person ransoms · participle present ransoming · participle past ransomed · past ransomed

1. obsoleteTo deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties.First known use 14th century
2. To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment.

   to ransom prisoners from an enemy

   1 more example

   And gainſt the General we will lift our ſwords And either lanch his greedie thirſting throat, Or take him priſoner, and his chaine ſhall ſerue For Manackles, till he be ranſom’d home.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii

3. To exact a ransom (payment) in exchange for the freedom of.

   Terrorists will continue to hold few detainees in undisclosed locations in order to ransom them for money or some other material profit, […]

   2017, Bruce Oliver Newsome, James W. Stewart, Aarefah Mosavi, Countering New(est) Terrorism: Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, and Active Violence — Assessing, Negotiating, and Assaulting, CRC Press, →ISBN

plural Ransoms

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. A place in the United States:
   1. countableuncountableA village in Allen Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, named after Thomas E. G. Ransom.
   2. countableuncountableA minor city in Ness County, Kansas, also named after Thomas Ransom.
   3. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Pike County, Kentucky.
   4. countableuncountableA township and unincorporated community therein, in Hillsdale County, Michigan, named after Epaphroditus Ransom.
   5. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community and township in Nobles County, Minnesota.
   6. countableuncountableA township and village therein, in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, named after Samuel Ransom.