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ransomn. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French rancun, rançon. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman rancun, rançoun, ransoun, ransun, raunceon, raunceoun, raunçon, raunsone, raunsonne, raunson, raunsoun, rampçon and Old French raançon, raençun, rainson, Anglo-Norman and Middle French ranson, Old French, Middle French reanson, Middle French rançon price exacted for release of a captive, release of a captive, redemption, release from sins (12th cent.), fine, amercement (14th cent. in Anglo-Norman; French rançon ) < classical Latin redemptiōn- , redemptiō redemption n. Compare post-classical Latin ransona (1326 in a British source). Compare Old Occitan rezemson, reemson, etc. buying back, ransom, cost of releasing a captive, release from captivity (12th cent.), Catalan remçó buying out of captivity, redemption of sins (late 13th cent. as reemçó).Compare also the following borrowings from < French: Old Occitan remssó , ransó price paid for release of a prisoner (14th cent.; Occitan rançon ), Spanish ranzón price paid for the release of a prisoner (1476 as rançon ), Italian ranzone price paid for the release of a prisoner (c1500 as †ranzione ), release of a captive by means of this payment (16th cent.), and also Middle Dutch rantzuon , rantsoen , ransoen , rentsoen , etc. (1220–40; Dutch rantsoen , ransoen ), Middle Low German ransūn , ranzūn , German Ranzion (17th cent.; 16th cent. as Ranson ), Swedish ranson (16th cent., perhaps via Middle Low German). With the development of final -on to -om , unparalleled in the French forms, compare random n. and see forms and discussion at that entry. 1. society > authority > punishment > fine > [noun] society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [noun] ?c1225 (?a1200) (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 101 An mon þet leiȝe inprisun & achte muche ranceun. þet anane wise ne schulde ut bute forto hongin ear he hefde his ranceun [a1250 Titus rauncun; c1230 Corpus rancun] fulleliche ipaiȝet. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 1970 (MED) Qua þat slas or man or wijf, þar gas [a1400 Gött. bes; a1400 Trin. Cambr. is] na ransun bot liue for lijf. ?c1430 (c1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 62 (MED) Prelatis also robben þe pore lige men of þe king bi fals extorisions taken bi colour of holy correccion, &..make men paye a gret raunson. 1491 c. 22 §1 To abyde in prisone therfor unto the tyme he have made fyne and raunsom for the same. 1526 W. Bonde ii. sig. Miiiv Pardons payeth moste properly the raunsom of peyne due in purgatory. c1592 sig. D1 Thy death should paie thy ransome of thy fault. 1647 N. Bacon 94 Then might that penance be reduced to a ransome according to the graine of the offence. 1658 (R.) All the rest of the Judges..were..impeached of high-treason, disjudg'd and put to fines and ransoms. 1668 W. Prynne 11 Aurum Reginæ is due as well from Clergymen as well as Laymen; and out of the Fines of. Jews, and other Clippers, falsifiers of the Kings Moneyes, as of Christians and other Trespassers put to Fines and Ransoms at the Kings pleasure. 1700 R. Brady 425 The same King afterwards, in his Parlement, Impeached the said Lords..and caused many of their Company for fear of Death, to make Fine and Ransom as Traitors. 1769 W. Blackstone IV. 373 This is the reason why fines in the king's court are frequently denominated ransoms. 1799 H. Neuman tr. F.-A.-F. Larochefoucauld-Liancourt I. 244 The Quakers, Baptists, and Dunkers pay..during a war or insurrection, five pounds sterling, for their exemption from military service. Out of these fines and ransoms the adjutant-general of the militia receives his pay. 1839 H. J. Holthouse 302/1 Ransom (redemptio), in law this word is frequently used to signify a sum of money paid for the pardoning of some great offence. 1890 19 335 In the case of adultery the fine would be paid to the husband as a ransom, for death was a recognised penalty. 1927 42 590 He [sc. Henry IV] ordered that John Savage, the delinquent, should..pay double damages besides fine and ransom to the king. 1987 106 63 In Num 35:31, 32, a murderer may not pay a ransom for his life. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > impost, due, or tax > [noun] c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 9872 (MED) Hii þat were of ierusalem gret raunson him ȝeue, In þraldom as vnder him þere to bileue. c1330 (?a1300) (1886) l. 935 (MED) Mani man wepen sare For ransoun to yrland. c1330 in T. Wright (1839) 337 If the king in his lond maketh a taxacioun, And everi man is i-set to a certain raunczoun. a1450 (a1400) (BL Add.) (1932) 862 (MED) Shull þei never dwell in toun Withouten truage oþer raunsoun. 2. society > trade and finance > money > sum of money > [noun] > large sum ?a1300 Sayings St. Bernard (Digby) in F. J. Furnivall (1901) ii. 758 Þou most deyen, Ne may no rauncoun [c1300 Laud raunchoun] þe forbeyen. 1340 (1866) 35 Of þe ilke zenne ne byeþ naȝt þe heȝe men quit þet..sosteneþ..caorsins..and hy nymeþ þe medes..and oþerhuil þe ronsounes þet byeþ of þe guodes of þe poure. a1400 (?c1300) (Egerton) l. 2142 Gret raunsom y haue [c1330 Auchinleck Wide whar ichaue iwent And me warisoun ispent]. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 1665 (MED) Besands to þe bischop he bed out of nounbre Reches him of rede gold ransons [a1500 Trin. Dub. raunsons] many. c1450 J. Capgrave (Arun. 396) (1893) ii. 356 (MED) The lond of Capados, If ye had oon swiche [sc. a husband] myght bere vp your loos, Wolde paye a raunsom with ful good entent, So þat ye wolde on-to this thyng consent. 1742 I. xii. 363/2 Every Man should pay not what he pleas'd, but what the King would have him, who never was moderate in his Demands, always exorbitant, turning Forfeitures into Fines, Fines into Ransoms. 1834 Aug. 272 He'll publish the owtobiography o' a' Us Three, first piecemeel in Maga, and then ilka ane by itsell, in three vols. crown octavo, gettin' a ransom for the copy-richts. 1834 S. Coleridge 15 Shawls so rich and handsome, Diamonds worth a ransom, From the same far country brought. 1919 J. Buchan xv. 285 Fuel, bread, even milk and cheese were hard to get and cost a ransom. 1998 S. Orlean 94 Species..that resist cloning are still rare and cost a ransom. society > trade and finance > monetary value > price > high price or rate > [noun] > excessively 1816 W. Scott I. iii. 59 Could a copy [of Caxton's ‘Game of Chess’] now occur..Lord only knows what would be its ransom. 1828 D. M. Moir i. 14 Grannie..sold the milk..at the ransom of a ha'penny the mutchkin. 1875 W. Alexander viii. 133 Some said Sandy Mutch had taken the farm ‘at a ransom’. 1900 20 Oct. ‘Did ever ony mortal hear tell o' sic an imposition?’ ‘Deed, it's an awfu' ransom.’ 1932 A. J. Cronin ii. xviii. 352 But the price of things... It's shameful. Everything a ransom now. 1996 C. I. Macafee 271/1 At a ransom, at an exorbitant price. a1325 (c1280) (Pepys 2344) (1927) 457 Þanne one Mannes sone hi shulleþ seo in hare siȝte..Ȝoure eyen hebbeþ an hey..ffor ȝoure raunsoun is ney. c1350 (Harl. 874) (1961) 183 (MED) Þat is þe secounde deþ, for þere nys no raunsoum. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 9772 (MED) Angel ne might wit na resun Mak for adam his ranscun [c1460 Laud raunsom; Göt raunsum; a1400 Trin. Cambr. raunsoun]. a1425 (a1400) (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 2834 (MED) In inferno nulla est redempcio; in helle..es na raunceon, For na helpe may be in þat dungeon. c1429 (1986) l. 2574 Godde..sent hym to dye, mans reaunceoune for to make. a1456 J. Lydgate (1911) i. 42 (MED) He for man þe Raunsom on him tooke. 1554 Bp. T. Watson ii. sig. T.vi It [sc. the Passion of Christ] might be continually celebrate by mistery that ones was offered for our ransome. 1604 T. Bilson 374 Hee might yeeld to God for vs, and as part of our ransome, the lowest degree of submission, and deepest impression of feare and sorrow, that mans nature could feele without doubting or distrusting the fauour and goodnesse of God towards him or his. 1614 W. Alexander sig. Dv For our Ransome offring vp his blood, Huge was the Warre he had to make our Peace! 1662 W. Hemings 43 Thy aged Father kneels; And kneels to thee,..And begs with tears, with tears of bitterness, the ransom of thy soul. 1745 J. Wesley & C. Wesley cxxvi. 106 To Thee his Passion we present, Who for our Ransom dyes. 1776 J. Peacock iii. 167 In unknown Agonies He dy'd, Our Ransom to complete. 1815 W. Wordsworth iii. 47 ‘Behold,’ said he, ‘The ransom of a sinful world.’ 1847 R. Davidson viii. 208 Was the Supreme Being so weak..as to be obliged to compound with a poor, damned rebel,..and pay him such a price for the ransom of sinners? 1925 E. Houvet 10/1 Here he is not the Christ of the Revelation, as on the western door, but the preceptor, the shepherd who gave his life for our ransom. 1994 June 242 What is expressed in these seemingly extravagant views of ransom and sacrifice is that this Jesus, who came from God bearing God's presence and power, signifies the radical extent of God's self-gift to human beings. 4. society > trade and finance > money > sum of money > [noun] > large sum c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 6046 (MED) Þis folc bisette kaunterbury & uaste it bi lay, & gret raunson [c1425 Harl. raymson] of hom wiþinne esste, to be out of wo. a1375 (c1350) (1867) 1251 (MED) Y am prest as þi prisoun to paye þe my ransum. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) vii. 3833 (MED) Agag made gret beheste Of rancoun which he wolde yive. c1475 (?c1425) (1984) l. 343 Sir Gauan..wold pay my rawunsone Wythowtyn delees. 1488 (c1478) Hary (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 150 His kyn mycht nocht him get..Mycht thai hawe payit the Ransoune of a king. a1525 Talis Fyve Bestes l. 132, in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 131 A kyngis ransoun it was worth & maire. 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus f. 163v Thei had been leat..without any peny of raunsome paiyng to escape. c1590 C. Marlowe vi I'll not speak another word for a King's ransom. 1610 R. Tofte ii. 52 Daine, that he may thee serue, his raunsome so to pay. a1640 P. Massinger Bashful Lover ii. viii. 1 in (1655) I know him, he's a man of ransom. 1697 W. Dampier vi. 145 Here we staid till the sixth day, in hopes to get a Ransom for the Town. 1718 Lady M. W. Montagu May (1965) I. 408 Her Brother..sent the sum of £4,000 sterling as a Ransom for his sister. 1748 G. G. Beekman Let. 5 Feb. in (1956) I. 43 You may Give them fifty Pounds Sterling as a ransom for her again for She will not be worth that to them. 1770 H. Brooke V. 206 She gave me a Look that overvalued the Ransom of a Monarch. 1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in III. 15 Like all..prisoners of war, she must..pay her ransom in gold. 1829 A. M. Hall I. 75 I could'nt look upon the babby's face for a king's ransom. 1882 ‘Ouida’ I. 11 The stranger had been waiting for a ransom to be sent. 1886 R. Burton xi I will offer my life as a ransom for thee. 1921 A. E. R. Boak ii. v. 35 They accepted a ransom of 1000 pounds of gold (about $225,000) for the city and marched off home. 1924 G. B. Shaw iv. 41 The Chaplain: You have first to catch her, my lord. The Nobleman: Or buy her. I will offer a king's ransom. 1993 18 Sept. 67/3 The kidnapper demanded a ransom of £175,000 for her safe release. b. figurative. Theology. the world > the supernatural > deity > Christian God > the Trinity > the Son or Christ > [noun] > as sacrifice or victim a1400 (a1325) (Coll. Phys.) 21731 (MED) Of croice god bochte þair sawil liuis, Þar-on he gaue himselue rancun. c1400 J. Wyclif (1871) III. 470 (MED) Goddis Son..was rannisome for mannes soules. a1450 in R. H. Bowers (1963) 40 (MED) Ther ran out watir & blod ful schene, That was raunsom of our wo. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine 290 b/2 O crosse..which only were worthy to bere the raunson of the world. a1513 J. Irland (1965) II. 43 I haue deit on the croce I haue pait the ransoune for mankind. a1569 A. Kingsmill Conf. containing Conflict with Satan 37 in (new ed.) (1578) Looke, Christe is called a ransome, that is, a price of redemption. 1611 1 Tim. ii. 6 The man Christ Jesus, Who gaue himselfe a ransome for all. 1667 J. Milton x. 61 Sending thee..his Mediator..Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie. View more context for this quotation a1711 T. Ken Christophil in (1721) I. 511 A Price inestimable paid, The Blood of God our Ransom made. 1732 W. Lauder tr. H. Grotius 3 Christ, the great ransom for the sins of men. 1796 N. Strong iii. 276 Christ is the ransom and he paid the price. a1854 H. Reed (1878) vii. 236 A soul..not unworthy the awful ransom of the Redeemer's blood. 1863 xlviii. 208 The death of Christ was a ransom for all. 1919 10 158 Jesus died so that he might serve as a ransom for the sins of his people. 1958 23 July 5/3 Sermon subject: ‘Christ Is Your Ransom For Sin.’ 2007 (Nexis) 21 July d7 Jesus was a ransom so that people could be free. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 28023 (MED) Fra godd his ranscon ful dere yee stele, Þat es þat ilk saul þat he Cost wit his ded on rode tre. a1500 (c1410) (Hunterian) (1980) ii. 243 (MED) Wher is þe raunsom of myn blood? Wher ben þo soulys þat Y bouȝte so dere? society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [noun] > ransoming a1350 in (1911) 127 44 (MED) Whose þuncheþ him in prisoun, þat is chalenge & raunsoun. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 166 He ful soone hem sente To Atthenes to dwellen in prison Perpetuelly he nolde no raunson. c1475 (?c1425) (1984) l. 394 Mi rauunsun is all redy boȝte. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 56 Four Consules the quhilkis the jnymyes wald nocht lat to ransoun. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 72 Slayand thame without ransoune. 1490 (1962) 89 He wolde take to raenson þe knyght that was a straunger. 1548 in A. I. Cameron (1927) 268 And hes haldin the saidis master with uder thre plegen for the ransom of the rest. 1569 R. Grafton II. 295 They slue many a man that could not come to raunsome. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy xxii. 471 The matter was propounded in the Senate concerning the ransome of the captives. 1656 B. Harris tr. J. N. de Parival i. iv. xxxii. 142 Prisoners..put to ransom, by a singular favour of the Prince of Orange. 1799 S. Ireland i. i. 77 But for that ambitious King of Scots, We hold him pris'ner, until he pay us Ten thousand marks, for ransom of his person. 1819 W. Scott II. xiii. 245 An honourable imprisonment..as is due to one who is in treaty for ransom. 1819 W. Scott III. ii. 60 Let us put the Jew to ransom. 1826 J. Browning tr. L. Pignotti I. xiv. 440 She concluded with the Genoese a very unfavourable peace by the ransom of prisoners. 1863 M. L. Booth tr. A. Cochin vi. ii. 254 He could not hinder the native sultans..from seeking to profit by the ransom of negroes effected by France. 1913 J. F. Kelly iv. 46 The Consejo de Cruzada had advanced her 60 escudos on her undertaking to refund the money within a year if, during the interval, it had not been applied to the ransom of Miguel and Rodrigo. 1920 J. P. Trevelyan xii. 195 One after another the chief citizens were seized and put to ransom. 1990 24 747 The anti-warlord programme was conceived and sold as an antidote to banditry,..to kidnap and ransom, and to other unpleasant side-effects of warlord occupation familiar to peasants and townsfolk up and down the province. the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > to pay ransom 1747 in (1851) V. 75 The St. Christopher arrived, whose Crew..had taken and dismissed on a Ransome for Four thousand Dollars an English Frigate. Phrases1819 W. Scott II. xii. 223 Do hold the damsel to ransom, seeing he will pay you from his bags as much as may find fifty damsels upon safer terms. 1840 C. F. Hoffman II. iii. iv. 135 This seizing of opposite partisans, and holding them to ransom. 1913 18 Dec. 5/1 The municipal strike may drag on.., but its back has been broken... A community with backbone cannot be held to ransom by its servants. 1973 19 Apr. 14/3 To make a plutonium bomb, with which a criminal could hold a city to ransom..one needs just 16·2 kilos of the metal. 1995 1 Nov. 4/2 It seems strange that one province can hold the ROC [= rest of Canada] to ransom. 2004 D. J. Whittaker iii. 38 Are the hostages left to be butchered or held to ransom? Compounds C1. a. General attributive. 1905 5 July 2/1 Raisuli's ransom demand is so exorbitant as to be out of the question. 2007 (Nexis) 20 Feb. 19 There has been no ransom demand and the lack of contact has led police to believe the kidnapping may have been part of a vendetta. 1851 T. A. Buckley tr. Homer vi. 107 My sire will bestow on thee countless ransom-gifts. 1999 120 489 Priam is able to secure his son's body through ransom gifts and is then able to return to Troy. 1777 W. Green tr. Horace x. 22 Safe in thy conduct, Trojan fire, With sums of ransom gold. 1815 W. Scott v. xxiv. 205 He proffer'd ransom-gold to pay. 1906 C. M. Doughty I. iv. 215 The temple ornaments, of ransom-gold of Rome. 2005 (Nexis) 2 Jan. (Arts section) 10 One of the baddies even fries inside a live furnace which had been switched on to melt the ransom gold. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [noun] 1601 A. Munday sig. G4v If you be elected deputie, Doe as you ought, and send the ransome money. 1763 III. 41 The ransom money was scarcely sufficient to defray the expence of the expedition. 1848 T. A. Buckley tr. Homer 351 Two men contended for the ransom-money of a slain man. 2001 18 Oct. 17/1 The Marxist guerrillas refer to the kidnappings that provide them with ransom money as detenciones. 1909 1 May 2/1 (headline) Chinese kidnapper caught. Trapped through dummy ransom package and sent to reform school. 2005 (Nexis) 27 July 27 That ransom package also contains a portable hard drive revealing a ransom demand of 1 million with a time-limit of 12 hours. 1859 J. Garner xxi. 375 When our Lord offered himself as a sacrifice for sin, and died on the cross, the Father accepted the ransom; then, so far as the ransom payment was concerned, Christ redeemed the whole world. 1901 10 Oct. 1/2 Questions ransom payment. The News in an editorial..expresses the opinion that the payment of such large ransom is a very questionable proceeding. 2007 (Nexis) 24 Sept. 34 The Americans reminded her that U.S. policy forbids ransom payments. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [noun] 1735 J. Gill I. liv. 289 Christ's purchase would be in vain, and the ransom price be paid for nought. 1837 J. Conder Lord's Prayer in My ransom-price He paid, upon whom my guilt was laid. 1990 D. Alexander (BNC) 66 Whenever the word translated ‘atonement’ was used it meant paying a price—a ransom price. 1866 H. Bushnell i. v. 113 To be the ransom purchase of others. b. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour (St. John's Cambr.) xiii. 534 Arayit weill, but ransoune fre. 1781 J. Sterling ii. 121 At the close of the campaign, he was permitted to depart ransom free. 2003 D. Hoyos iii. 37 The Romans in turn released 2,700 remaining Punic prisoners of war ransom-free (the Carthaginians had not the money to ransom them). C2. the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > to pay ransom 1752 W. Beawes 227 The wording of Ransom Bills has been various. ?1800 E. Anderson 22 I was forc'd to sign a ransom bill. 1918 31 642 Less important are the relaxations in favor of ransom bills and contracts of necessity, especially by prisoners of war. 1934 20 Sept. 1/7 A man who was alleged to have paid for some gasoline recently with a $10 bill later found to be one of the ransom bills. 1997 (Lexis) 28 Feb. 523 If a British ship was captured by the enemy, the captors would release the ship against a ‘ransom bill’ issued by the master. 2001 (Nexis) 1 Mar. 22 When possible, officials should record the serial numbers of the ransom bills or arrange with the Federal Reserve Banking system to provide marked or recorded bills. the mind > language > speech > agreement > promise > [noun] > to pay ransom 1817 G. Chalmers Life T. Churchyard in T. Churchyard 7 Releasing many of his fellow-captives, on his own ransom-bond. 1914 S. Mitchell 116 Tell the dame what fate her lord should have if three days gone no ransom bond came back to bring release. 1996 W. Marvel ix. 109 By midnight Jones was ferried back to his ship, for which he signed a ransom bond greater than the cost of building the Alabama. the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > kidnapping or abduction > kidnap or abduct [phrase] > documents used 1897 20 Aug. 1/4 The messenger boy who started to deliver the ‘ransom’ note but returned it received it from three men. 1935 M. M. Atwater xiv. 135 Maybe it's a kidnapping, but there's no ransom notes. 2002 J. Weyland xii. 180 If you can't draw, steal artwork... Use the ransom-note method of cutting and pasting to create one-of-a-kind designs. 1604 T. Bilson 104 This forsaking or dereliction beseemeth the time, place, person and cause of Christ our ransome payer. 1645 S. Rutherford (1845) 186 You shame the glory of the ransom-payer. 1902 10 Apr. 1/4 (headline) Miss Stone..says she has recovered from effects of her captivity. No cruelty to her. All money from her proposed lecture tour will go to ransom-payers. 2000 (Nexis) 18 Aug. 18 The Philippine government, itself a frequent ransom-payer, warned the Europeans they would have to do the same in the end. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022). ransomv. Origin: Probably of multiple origins. Probably partly formed within English, by conversion. Probably partly a borrowing from French. Etymons: ransom n.; French rançonner. Etymology: Probably partly < ransom n. and partly < Anglo-Norman raunceoner, raunçonner, raunsoner, raunsonner, raunsouner, Anglo-Norman and Middle French rançonner to free from imprisonment in return for a payment (1262 in Old French), to pay a ransom for (first half of the 14th cent. in Anglo-Norman), to extort a sum of money from (1377–80; French rançonner ) < rançon ransom n. Compare post-classical Latin ransonare, raunsonare, rauncionare (from 1377 in British sources), Old Occitan rezemsonar to hold to ransom. Compare also Italian ranzonare (second half of the 17th cent.; < French), and also Dutch rantsoenen (16th cent.), Middle Low German ranzūnen, German †ranzionen (16th cent.), ranzionieren (17th cent.; now rare).In Middle English prefixed and unprefixed forms of the past participle are attested (see y- prefix). 1. society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > salvation, redemption > save, redeem [verb (transitive)] c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring (1891) xxv. 11 (MED) Raunceoun me [L. redime me], Lord, and haue mercy on me. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 9784 If godd had wroght anoþer man For to ransun wit adam. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 14437 (MED) He sent his sun..To ranscun [a1400 Gött. ranson; a1400 Trin. Cambr. raumsoun; a1400 Fairf. ransoum] all þat yode to hell. ?a1450 in C. von Nolcken (1979) 94 (MED) Criste had þe drede ynoȝ þat boȝt [or] ravnsoned þe wiþ þe prise of his ovne blode. a1500 (?c1414) 28 (MED) Cryist..deyid up on the rood To raunsoun synfull creature. 1557 Epistle **j He was solde to ransom vs. 1593 A. Willet ii. 58 He then that reconcileth, ransometh or redeemeth vs, what is he else but an agent efficient, & working cause of our redemption & reconciliation? 1638 R. Brathwait ii. 92 God shall ransome and receive My soule from hand of Hell. 1667 J. Milton iii. 297 His Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life. View more context for this quotation 1710 A. Rigge 136 For what end did he lay down his life? Was it to ransom Man from Sin, or no? 1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in 128 We..learn with wonder how this world began, Who made, who marr'd, and who has ransom'd man. View more context for this quotation 1800 T. Carbry tr. A. Valsecchi II. xvii. 554 Let us turn our eyes to Christ..and the abundant redemption, which ransomed human nature. 1879 F. R. Havergal Under his Shadow in (1884) II. 360 O Saviour, hast Thou ransomed us from death's unknown abyss? 1936 31 169 The appeal to Christ on the cross is very fine, but Ixion and Tantalus, Charon and Cerberus, come in strangely as symbols of the death from which He has ransomed us. 1994 Feb. 36 The total self-giving of the Word made flesh to ransom us from sin and death. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [verb (transitive)] a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. xiii. 5 Þe lord..haþ raunsomed [L. redemit] ȝow fro þe hous of seruage. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 211 (MED) Withbrandes..raunsoned [v.r. raunsede] þe relikes of seint Austyn. ?c1450 (?a1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 365 (MED) Þo þingis þat wer offrid to god in þe temple..weren kept fro þe use of þat kynrede to þe comon profete of alle þe peple, as to þe repaire of þe temple, and to rawnson þe kynge and þe rewme at nede. 1488 (c1478) Hary (Adv.) (1968–9) viii. l. 452 Quha ȝeildis him sall neuir ransownd be. 1513 Galway Arch. in (1885) App. v. 395 That no dweller of this towne become suertie for no gent of the countrey, ne ramson none of them. 1594 T. Nashe sig. K2 v Saue her, kil me, & Ile ransome her with a thousand duckets. 1624 J. Smith vi. 215 Their Canowes..they ransomed for Beuer skinnes. 1667 T. Sprat 434 To randsome the minds of all mankind from Slavery. 1693 H. Higden iv. 39 I have been in a storm when to lighten the Ship we have threw Gold and Silver overboard by whole-Sale, as much as would have ransom'd the King. 1720 D. Defoe 211 If he would ransom the Ship, we would take a Sum of Money, and let them go. 1759 S. Johnson II. xxxvi. 71 The princess was in extasies when she heard that her favourite was alive, and might so cheaply be ransomed. 1819 W. Scott III. ii. 53 Speak, Jew—have I not ransomed thee from Sathanas? 1868 E. A. Freeman II. viii. 276 His wife..ransomed him at a heavy price. 1919 W. S. Davis xxiv. 524 The first great task was to pay off the Germans. There were grave doubts as to the ability of France to discharge the debt and to ransom her soil. 1992 28 June 44/4 He has a hearty appetite for covert operations, as Oliver North understood when he got Perot to front money to ransom hostages held in Beirut. society > morality > virtue > righteousness or rectitude > reform, amendment, or correction > atonement > atone for [verb (transitive)] a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 14427 (MED) He suld flexs take o þair kin For to ranscun [a1400 Trin. Cambr. raumson] wit adam sin. c1480 (a1400) St. George 77 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) II. 178 To ransone þe tyme & to sauf þame fra his venyme. 1609 W. Shakespeare xxxiv. sig. C4 Those teares..are ritch, and ransome all ill deeds. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare (1622) iii. iv. 116 Neither seruice past, nor present sorrowes,..Can ransome me, into his loue againe. 1637 T. Nabbes i. i. sig. B2 Were I an Hanniball..One Capua should ransome all. 1787 A. Hawkins tr. V. Mignot I. 322 In Turkey there is no crime but may be ransomed for money. 1796 T. Jefferson (1859) IV. 152 Its moments of extasy would be ransomed by years of torment and hatred. 1854 J. Howe 77 On, brethren, draw the sword, Loose the bold tongue and pen, unfearing, The weakness of our human flesh Is ransomed by your persevering? society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [verb (transitive)] > purchase life or liberty by a ransom 1567 W. Painter II. xxx. f. 356 Ah yt my life might raunsome thine. 1596 R. Johnson xiv. 137 Most mighie & inuincible Champion of Christendome (quoth he) let my life be ransomed, and thou shalt yearely receaue ten tunnes of tried gold. 1630 T. Dekker v. ii. 126 If my poore life May ransome thine, I yeeld it to the Law. 1697 W. Dampier iv. 75 The men..made them send ashore for Cattle to ransom their Liberties. 1720 C. Nary viii. iii. 423 The Gauls..forc'd them [sc. the Romans] to Capitulate for their Lives, and ransom the same at the Price of a vast Weight of Gold. 1783 A. Ferguson III. iv. 171 Many persons were threatened, to induce them to ransom their lives with money. 1801 III. 82 The design she had long meditated..of endeavouring to ransom his liberty. 1856 M. J. Raphall I. 282 He ransomed his life and liberty by releasing a great number of the Jewish inhabitants of Galilee whom he had made captive. 1907 3rd Ser. 1 82 Thus for the second time had Caesar ransomed his life for money. 1996 I. Earls 269 The monastic order that would have ransomed his freedom. 1722 Capt. Ogle in No. 6091/2 An English Ship, for refusing to ransom the Pyrates had been burnt. 2. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [verb (transitive)] > put to ransom society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > [verb (transitive)] > put to ransom > demand payment for 1398 in J. Slater (Ph.D. thesis, Univ. of Edinb.) (1952) No. 38 Qwha sa beis fondin culpable..sal be deliuerit to the partie that has sustenit the schath to sla or ravnson at thair likyng. 1413–19 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 226 (MED) Sir Richard and his Officers claymed and toke oon Julian Lampit..and helde hire in prisoune tille he had raunsommed her to an c s. 1441 in H. Nicolas (1835) V. 319 Your ennemy..put him in grete duresse..and rampsoumed him at c. marc. 1489 (a1380) J. Barbour (Adv.) ii. 469 Off other that war takyn than Sum thai ransownyt sum thai slew. a1513 R. Fabyan (1516) II. f. xxxiiv That he were streyght put in pryson, and not to be raunsomyd nor delyuered tyll the Kyngys pleasure were forther knowen. a1578 R. Lindsay (1899) I. 228 Stewin Bull ranssonat the skiparis, and held money of the marienaris presonaris. 1599 N. Breton Wil of Wit iii. i, in (1879) 37/2 The souldiours entred, slewe a number, some they raunsommed. 1611 R. Cotgrave Faire war, wherein souldiers are taken prisoners and ransomed at a certaine rate. a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger (1647) i. i. 1 When a maid is contracted And ready for the tye o'th Church, the Governour, He that commands in chiefe, must have her maiden-head Or ransome it for mony at his pleasure. 1693 E. Bohun 194 The Heer Van Dolhain..in that year took, and spoiled, and ransomed many Ships. 1720 J. Dennis i. i. 5 Condemning some to Death, and some to Exile; Ransoming some, some pitying, threatning others. 1790 R. Beatson III. 111 The Richmond of thirty-two guns, commanded by Captain Elphinstone..received intelligence, on the 23rd of January, of a French frigate, that had the day before taken an English vessel, and ransomed her. 1819 W. Scott II. v. 81 Who is it that rifle, and ransom, and make prisoners, in these forests? 1869 W. E. H. Lecky II. i. 83 Epaminondas was accustomed to ransom captives. 1907 6 243 Ingesha, another leader, was captured and afterwards ransomed for 400 head of cattle. 1951 20 223 For the rule where a statuliber was captured and ransomed, and had to pay 10,000 sesterces for his liberty, cf. [etc.]. 1987 Sept. 41/3 Salvadoran terrorists abducted and later ransomed five foreign businessmen for reported ransoms of at least $18 million. the mind > possession > taking > extortion > practise extortion on [verb (transitive)] ?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena (Harl.) (1966) 31 (MED) Sumtyme by extorcyoun, by lordschip, sumtyme þoru fraude and bigilynge or wiþ disceyt, þei raunsome hem and take of her good. c1440 (?a1400) 100 Thow has redyn and raymede and raunsound þe pople. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart II. 3 All suche landes as he had rule of, he raunsomed them..greuously, and wolde taxe the men two or three tymes in a yere. 1590 J. Smythe 7 b By fleecing and ransoming of their soldiers being men of wealth. 1622 M. Drayton xxii. 39 Then [Cade] goodly London tooke, There ransoming some rich. 1657 W. Prynne 17 They are more frequently visited, Plundred, spoiled, captivated, fined, ransomed by the Enemy upon all advantages and occasions. 1749 J. Cleland II. 214 Besides that, she never ransomed her customers..she was a severe enemy to the seduction of innocence. 1865 T. Carlyle VI. xxi. ii. 362 Noble and Peasant had been pillaged, ransomed, foraged, eaten out by so many different Armies. 1999 (Nexis) 2 July 1 We've made offers to these landowners and tenants which are all in excess of the commercial value. They have chosen not to accept them on the grounds that presumably they think they can ransom us to try to obtain higher values than the sites are actually worth. society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > ransom > pay ransom [verb (intransitive)] 1722 Capt. Ogle in No. 6091/2 They had all ransomed at the Rate of eight Pounds Weight of Gold each. 1758 G. G. Beekman Let. 17 Feb. in (1956) I. 323 We have given Captain Gillis Orders to Ransom, Provided he Can git both Vessel and Cargo for One thousand pounds Sterling. a1845 J. Haskins (1848) 43 A mighty conqueror was on his way, To ransom—to redeem. 1991 W. K. Pritchett V. 253 Plutarch says that the senate refused to ransom. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022). <  n.?c1225 v.c1350 |
