What does being ransom mean?

What does being ransom mean?

: money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped. ransom. verb. English Language Learners Definition of ransom (Entry 2 of 2) : to pay money in order to free (a person who has been captured or kidnapped)

What does ransom mean in the Bible?

of deliverance or rescue
a means of deliverance or rescue from punishment for sin, especially the payment of a redemptive fine.

What is an example of ransom?

Ransom is defined as the act of holding someone or something hostage in order to get a demand met, or the money paid to get the item or person back. An example of ransom is the money paid to a kidnapper to get a kidnapped child back.

What does holding someone for ransom mean?

Definition of ‘to hold someone for ransom’ If a kidnapper is holding a person for ransom, they keep that person prisoner until they are given what they want. He is charged with kidnapping a businessman last year and holding him for ransom.

Does ransom have to be money?

ransom Add to list Share. Ransom can refer to the money paid, but it can also be a verb that describes paying for the release of someone being held. If you have to ransom your best friend, that means you’re paying his captors to release him.

How do you explain ransom to a child?

definition: the payment demanded in return for setting a kidnapped person free, or the act of setting someone free by paying the price demanded. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one hundred thousand dollars.

Is ransom a crime?

Whoever receives, possesses, or disposes of any money or other property, or any portion thereof, which has at any time been delivered as ransom or reward in connection with a violation of section 1201 of this title, knowing the same to be money or property which has been at any time delivered as such ransom or reward.

What is the largest ransom ever paid?

Historically the greatest ransom paid was that paid for Atahualpa, the last emperor of the Incas, to the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1532-3 at Cajamarca, Peru, which constituted a hall full of gold and silver, worth in modern money some $1.5 billion (£1 billion).

What is considered the richest ransom in history?

If you’re not familiar with the name Atahualpa, you need to bone up on your Incan history. But in the context of huge ransom payments, here’s all you need to know about him: The Guinness Book of World Records officially considers the ransom paid for his release in 1533 to be the largest ransom ever paid in history.

What does the idiom a red herring mean?

1 : a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color. 2 [from the practice of drawing a red herring across a trail to confuse hunting dogs] : something that distracts attention from the real issue.

Is ransom illegal?

U.S. Law Generally Does Not Prohibit Paying a Ransom for the Return of People or Goods. U.S. law criminalizes receiving, possessing, or disposing of money that at any time has been delivered as ransom for a kidnapping.

Is ransom a name?

Ransom is a male given name which may refer to: Ransom Cook (1794–1881), American inventor. Ransom Dunn (1818–1900), American minister and theologian. Ransom L.

What does pay ransom mean?

A ransom is money that is demanded as payment for the return of someone who has been kidnapped. The kidnappers are demanding a ransom of five million pounds. If you ransom someone who has been kidnapped, you pay the money to set them free. The same system was used for ransoming or exchanging captives.

What is the biblical meaning of ransom?

Bible Term: Ransom. The price paid to free someone from slavery, bondage, or kidnappers. Jesus ransomed us from a life of slavery to selfishness and godlessness. Ransom can also be used as a verb, which means the act of obtaining someone’s release.

What is the definition of ransom?

Definition of ransom. (Entry 1 of 3) 1 : a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity.

What does ransom money mean?

Ransom Money. 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. According to Federal laws, whoever receives, possesses, or disposes of any money or other property, or any portion thereof, which has at any time been delivered as ransom…