Kidnap

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Kidnap \Kid"nap`\ (k[i^]d"n[a^]p`), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     {Kidnaped} (k[i^]d"n[a^]pt`) or {Kidnapped}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Kidnaping} or {Kidnapping}.] [Kid a child + Prov. E. nap to
     seize, to grasp. Cf. {Knab}, {Knap}, {Nab}.]
     To take (any one) by force or fear, and against one's will,
     with intent to carry to another place. --Abbott.


     [1913 Webster]
  
           You may reason or expostulate with the parents, but
           never attempt to kidnap their children, and to make
           proselytes of them.                      --Whately.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Originally used only of stealing children, but now
           extended in application to any human being,
           involuntarily abducted. Kidnaper

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  kidnap
       v : take away to an undisclosed location against their will and
           usually in order to extract a ransom; "The
           industrialist's son was kidnapped" [syn: {nobble}, {abduct},
            {snatch}]
       [also: {kidnapping}, {kidnapped}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  24 Moby Thesaurus words for "kidnap":
     abduce, abduct, capture, carry away, carry off, coax, crimp, decoy,
     entice, hold for ransom, impress, inveigh, lure, make off with,
     return, run away with, seduce, seize, shanghai, skyjack, snatch,
     spirit away, throttle, waylay