ransom

Definitions

1. 1.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/.
2. 2.(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.
3. 3.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.
4. 4.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.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "ransom" mean?
• What is another word for "ransom"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is ransom.

• What is 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 called?
• What is 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 called?