Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ransom"
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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ransom \Ran"som\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ransomed}; 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.
2. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ransom \Ran"som\, 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 captive, or of captured
property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as,
prisoners hopeless of ransom. --Dryden.
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.
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/.
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.
{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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (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}]
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