Ransom

11 definitions found

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

  Ransom \Ran"som\ (r[a^]n"s[u^]m), n. [OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF.
     ran[,c]on, raen[,c]on, raan[,c]on, F. ran[,c]on, fr. L.
     redemptio, fr. redimere to redeem. See {Redeem}, and cf.
     {Redemption}.]
     1. The release of a captive, or of captured property, by
        payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners


        hopeless of ransom. --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.
                                                    --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he
              paid for his liberty.                 --Sir J.
                                                    Davies.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {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.
        [1913 Webster]

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

  Ransom \Ran"som\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ransomed} (-s[u^]md); p.
     pr. & vb. n. {Ransoming}.] [Cf. F. ran[,c]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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To exact a ransom for, or a payment on. [R.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              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.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  ransom
       n 1: money demanded for the return of a captured person [syn: {ransom
            money}]
       2: payment for the release of someone
       3: the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
       v : exchange or buy back for money; under threat [syn: {redeem}]

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

  60 Moby Thesaurus words for "ransom":
     buy, deliver, deliverance, delivery, emancipate, extract,
     extricate, extrication, free, freeing, get back, liberate,
     liberation, lifesaving, payment, price, recapture, reclaim,
     reclaiming, reclamation, recoup, recoupment, recover, recovery,
     recuperate, recuperation, recycle, redeem, redemption, regain,
     regainment, release, renovate, reoccupation, reoccupy, replevin,
     replevy, repossess, repossession, rescue, restoration, restore,
     resume, resumption, retake, retaking, retrieval, retrieve,
     revindicate, revindication, revival, revive, salvage, salvation,
     save, saving, set free, take back, trover, win back
  
  

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}.)
     

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  RANSOM, contracts, war. An agreement made between the commander of a 
  capturing vessel with the commander of a vanquished vessel, at sea, by which 
  the former permits the latter to depart with his vessel, and gives him a 
  safe conduct, in consideration of a sum of money, which the commander of the 
  vanquished vessel, in his own name, and in the name of the owners of his 
  vessel and cargo, promises to pay at a future time named, to the other. 
       2. This contract is usually made in writing in duplicate, one of which 
  is kept by the vanquished vessel which is its safe conduct; and the other by 
  the conquering vessel, which is properly called ransom bill. 
       3. This contract, when made in good faith, and not locally prohibited, 
  is valid, and may be enforced. Such contracts have never been prohibited in 
  this country. 1 Kent, Com. 105. In England they are generally forbidden. 
  Chit. Law of Nat. 90 91; Poth. Tr. du Dr. de Propr. n. 127. Vide 2 Bro. Civ. 
  Law, 260; Wesk. 435; 7 Com. Dig. 201; Marsh. Ins. 431; 2 Dall. 15; 15 John. 
  6; 3 Burr. 1734. The money paid for the redemption of such property is also 
  called the ransom. 
  
  

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  RANSOM, n.  The purchase of that which neither belongs to the seller,
  nor can belong to the buyer.  The most unprofitable of investments.
  
  

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 U.S. Gazetteer Counties (2000) [gaz-county]:

  Ransom -- U.S. County in North Dakota
     Population (2000):    5890
     Housing Units (2000): 2604
     Land area (2000):     862.747134 sq. miles (2234.504725 sq. km)
     Water area (2000):    1.381735 sq. miles (3.578678 sq. km)
     Total area (2000):    864.128869 sq. miles (2238.083403 sq. km)
     Located within:       North Dakota (ND), FIPS 38
     Location:             46.478135 N, 97.668528 W
     Headwords:
      Ransom
      Ransom, ND
      Ransom County
      Ransom County, ND
  

From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:

  Ransom, IL -- U.S. village in Illinois
     Population (2000):    409
     Housing Units (2000): 159
     Land area (2000):     0.991359 sq. miles (2.567608 sq. km)
     Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
     Total area (2000):    0.991359 sq. miles (2.567608 sq. km)
     FIPS code:            62757
     Located within:       Illinois (IL), FIPS 17
     Location:             41.155955 N, 88.653178 W
     ZIP Codes (1990):     60470
     Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
     Headwords:
      Ransom, IL
      Ransom
  

From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:

  Ransom, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas
     Population (2000):    338
     Housing Units (2000): 179
     Land area (2000):     0.326169 sq. miles (0.844774 sq. km)
     Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
     Total area (2000):    0.326169 sq. miles (0.844774 sq. km)
     FIPS code:            58500
     Located within:       Kansas (KS), FIPS 20
     Location:             38.635344 N, 99.932434 W
     ZIP Codes (1990):     67572
     Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
     Headwords:
      Ransom, KS
      Ransom