ransom

English

/ˈɹænsəm/

noun
Definitions
  • Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.
  • The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration.
  • (historical) A sum paid for the pardon of some great offence and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ransoun derived from Old French raençon derived from Latin redemptio.

Origin

Latin

redemptio

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms