DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 ran·som /ˈræn(t)səm/
 贖金,贖身,贖回,敲詐,勒索(vt.)贖,贖身,贖回,勒索贖金

 Ran·som n.
 1. The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom.
 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.
 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.

 Ran·som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransomed p. pr. & vb. n. Ransoming.]
 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.
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 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]

 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.)