ransom

«ransom» in Mova's school dictionary: money demanded by criminals to set free a person they… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

noun (a ransom, ransoms); verb (ransom, ransoms, ransomed, ransoming)

meaning for a pupil

1) A ransom is money demanded by criminals to set free a person they have kidnapped or to give back something they have taken. tree →

2) To ransom someone is to pay to free them, or to hold them until money is paid. tree →

3) "Hold to ransom" means forcing people to do something by threatening them; "a king's ransom" means a huge amount of money. tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories and history, kings and knights were captured and ransomed, such as King Richard the Lionheart in 1192–1194. In the news and online safety, "ransomware" is a computer virus that locks files until money is paid. In maths, ransom amounts can appear in old-story problems. The phrase "a king's ransom" is used for something very expensive.

examples

• The kidnappers asked for a ransom of a million dollars. tree →
• The pirates held the captain for ransom. tree →
• King Richard was freed after England paid a huge ransom. tree →
• Those trainers cost a king's ransom! tree →
• The ransom note was made of letters cut from newspapers. tree →
• Ransomware locked the company's computers and asked for money. tree →
• Never pay strangers online who threaten your files; tell an adult. tree →
• In a flash the tiny mouse had seized it, and brought it to Waska as a ransom for the King of the Mice. tree →

note

Countable: a ransom, ransoms. Phrases: "hold someone to ransom" (UK) / "hold someone for ransom" (US). Not related to "random". "Ransomware" is the computer crime version.

In the corpora

• If there be laid on him a ransom, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
• None devoted, that may be devoted of men, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death.
• For the LORD hath ransomed Jacob, and He redeemeth him from the hand of him that is stronger than he.
• Shall I ransom them from the power of the nether-world?
• No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «ransom» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.