Meaning of "ransom" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD RANSOM

From Old French ransoun, from Latin redemptiō a buying back, redemption.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF RANSOM

ransom  [ˈrænsəm]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF RANSOM

Ransom is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb ransom in English.

WHAT DOES RANSOM MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Ransom

Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved. In an early German law, a similar concept was called weregild. When ransom means "payment", the word comes via Old French rançon from Latin redemptio = "buying back": compare "redemption". In Judaism ransom is called kofer-nefesh. Among other uses, the word was applied to the poll tax of a half shekel to be paid by every male above twenty years at the census.

Definition of ransom in the English dictionary

The first definition of ransom in the dictionary is the release of captured prisoners, property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price. Other definition of ransom is the price demanded or stipulated for such a release. Ransom is also rescue or redemption of any kind.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO RANSOM

PRESENT

Present

I ransom

you ransom

he/she/it ransoms

we ransom

you ransom

they ransom

Present continuous

I am ransoming

you are ransoming

he/she/it is ransoming

we are ransoming

you are ransoming

they are ransoming

Present perfect

I have ransomed

you have ransomed

he/she/it has ransomed

we have ransomed

you have ransomed

they have ransomed

Present perfect continuous

I have been ransoming

you have been ransoming

he/she/it has been ransoming

we have been ransoming

you have been ransoming

they have been ransoming

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I ransomed

you ransomed

he/she/it ransomed

we ransomed

you ransomed

they ransomed

Past continuous

I was ransoming

you were ransoming

he/she/it was ransoming

we were ransoming

you were ransoming

they were ransoming

Past perfect

I had ransomed

you had ransomed

he/she/it had ransomed

we had ransomed

you had ransomed

they had ransomed

Past perfect continuous

I had been ransoming

you had been ransoming

he/she/it had been ransoming

we had been ransoming

you had been ransoming

they had been ransoming

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will ransom

you will ransom

he/she/it will ransom

we will ransom

you will ransom

they will ransom

Future continuous

I will be ransoming

you will be ransoming

he/she/it will be ransoming

we will be ransoming

you will be ransoming

they will be ransoming

Future perfect

I will have ransomed

you will have ransomed

he/she/it will have ransomed

we will have ransomed

you will have ransomed

they will have ransomed

Future perfect continuous

I will have been ransoming

you will have been ransoming

he/she/it will have been ransoming

we will have been ransoming

you will have been ransoming

they will have been ransoming

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would ransom

you would ransom

he/she/it would ransom

we would ransom

you would ransom

they would ransom

Conditional continuous

I would be ransoming

you would be ransoming

he/she/it would be ransoming

we would be ransoming

you would be ransoming

they would be ransoming

Conditional perfect

I would have ransom

you would have ransom

he/she/it would have ransom

we would have ransom

you would have ransom

they would have ransom

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been ransoming

you would have been ransoming

he/she/it would have been ransoming

we would have been ransoming

you would have been ransoming

they would have been ransoming

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you ransom
we let´s ransom
you ransom

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to ransom

Past participle

ransomed

Present Participle

ransoming

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «RANSOM»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «ransom» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of ransom

deliver · deliverance · liberate · liberation · money · payment · payoff · price · redeem · redemption · release · rescue

TRANSLATION OF RANSOM

Find out the translation of ransom to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of ransom from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «ransom» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 赎金
• Translator English - Spanish: rescate
• English: ransom
• Translator English - Hindi: फिरौती
• Translator English - Arabic: فِدْيَة
• Translator English - Russian: выкуп
• Translator English - Portuguese: resgate
• Translator English - Bengali: মুক্তিপণ
• Translator English - French: rançon
• Translator English - Malay: Tebusan
• Translator English - German: Lösegeld
• Translator English - Japanese: 身代金
• Translator English - Korean: 몸값
• Translator English - Javanese: Tebusan
• Translator English - Vietnamese: tiền chuộc
• Translator English - Tamil: மீட்பு
• Translator English - Marathi: खंडणी
• Translator English - Turkish: fidye
• Translator English - Italian: riscatto
• Translator English - Polish: okup
• Translator English - Ukrainian: викуп
• Translator English - Romanian: răscumpărare
• Translator English - Greek: λύτρα
• Translator English - Afrikaans: losprys
• Translator English - Swedish: lösensumma
• Translator English - Norwegian: løsepenger

3 QUOTES WITH «RANSOM»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word ransom.

1

Des Browne

Are we prepared to tolerate a world in which countries which care about morality lay down their nuclear weapons, leaving others to threaten the rest of the world or hold it to ransom?

2

Frank Crowninshield

My sense of loneliness was not particularly great until I reached sixty. From that time on, I would have given an ex-king's ransom if I had been able, in my youth to seduce a lady into thinking of me as a handyman and provider around the house.

3

Bernard Hill

I don't understand why people expect tips. In hotels you order food in your room, and it's already more expensive from the room service menu, so it's a cheek to expect a tip on top. I do sometimes reward good service, but it should be at my discretion, and I'm not going to be held to ransom.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «RANSOM»

Discover the use of ransom in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to ransom and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Ransom

David Malouf shines new light on Homer's Iliad, adding twists and reflections, as well as flashes of earthy humour, to surprise and enchant.

David Malouf, 2012

Ransom

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Duncan including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s personal collection.

Lois Duncan, 2012

Ransom

For fans of Scottish medieval romances comes this beloved and classic page-turner from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.

Julie Garwood, 2010

Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow

Three years ago, a mysterious package arrived for Jake and Kady Ransom.

James Rollins, 2010

A King's Ransom

After seven members of their family are kidnapped by an organization called the Vespers, Dan and Amy Cahill must race against time to track down an ancient map to pay as ransom to bring the hostages home.

Jude Watson, 2011

Erak's Ransom

Erak's Ransom is the seventh thrilling book in John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series - over seven million sold worldwide.

John Flanagan, 2011

Ransom

Ransom is at once a riveting evocation of life’s inexplicable turns of fate and a testament to the human will to survive. From the Hardcover edition.

Danielle Steel, 2009

Ransom

Lt. David Archer, an officer in the Royal Navy, is hopelessly in love with his shipmate, Lt. William Marshall.

Lee Rowan, 2009

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

The photographs and text work together brilliantly to create an unforgettable story.”—John Green, New York Times best-selling author of The Fault in Our Stars “With its X-Men: First Class-meets-time-travel story line, David Lynchian ...

Ransom Riggs, 2011

The Ransom of Red Chief

Two men kidnap a mischievous boy and request a large ransom for his return.

O. Henry, 2008

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «RANSOM»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term ransom is used in the context of the following news items.

US ransom policy shift undermines UK's hardline stance

David Cameron is outspoken on the ransom issue. ... “Ransom payments lead to future kidnappings, and future kidnappings lead to additional ransom payments ... «The Guardian, Jun 15»

FBI assisted Weinstein family with ransom payment

Washington (CNN) The family of Warren Weinstein, an American who was held hostage by al Qaeda for four years before he was killed in a U.S. drone strike, ... «CNN, Apr 15»

Disabled tall ship towed to Eliot boatyard after crew's rescue

United States Coast Guard spokesman Chief Chris Guilmette said the 85-foot tall ship Liana's Ransom, which had been drifting off the coast of York since it ... «Press Herald, Mar 15»

Vallejo couple's kidnap-for-ransom claim: What to know

The strangers then took 29-year-old Denise Huskins from the couple's house and demanded an $8,500 ransom by noon Wednesday, according to Quinn and ... «KCRA Sacramento, Mar 15»

5 Red Flags That Turned Vallejo Kidnap/Ransom Case Into An …

VALLEJO (CBS SF) — In a matter of hours, the kidnapping and ransom case involving a Vallejo woman went from a tearful, happy ending to allegations of a ... «CBS Local, Mar 15»

Vallejo Police, FBI Investigating Report of Woman Kidnapped for …

Denise Huskins' boyfriend claims an intruder broke into his Mare Island home early Monday morning and took her by force while demanding a ransom. But for ... «NBC Bay Area, Mar 15»

Vatican: Michelangelo letter drew ransom demand

The Vatican says it has received a ransom demand for the return of a stolen letter by Renaissance artist Michelangelo. The request for money, made to the ... «BBC News, Mar 15»

Nigerian kidnappers demand ransom for US missionary Phyllis Sortor

Kidnappers who abducted Seattle missionary Phyllis Sortor this week have demanded a $150,000 ransom, according to Nigerian police, suggesting the ... «Los Angeles Times, Feb 15»

Hostage's father questions 'no ransom' policy

The father of slain Islamic State hostage Kayla Mueller is questioning the U.S. refusal to pay ransoms, saying the policy is being put ahead of people's lives. «USA TODAY, Feb 15»

Isis Japanese hostages: Japan 'reiterates it will not pay ransom' as …

However, when asked whether the British Prime Minister had urged Mr Abe to resist pressure to hand over a ransom to the kidnappers, a spokeswoman for ... «The Independent, Jan 15»