ransom

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɹæn.səm/^[1]

Etymology

It comes from Middle English raunsoun,^[2][3][4][5] from Old French rançon, earlier raenson,^[6][2][3][5] from Latin redemptio (“a buying back”),^{[6][2][3][4][5]} from redimere “to redeem, buy back”.^[2][3] It is a doublet of redemption.^[3] The change of final -n to -m also occurred in random and seldom.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A payment made for an offence; the price paid for the release of a captive (before 1225 in the OED, probably before 1200 in Barnhart).^[7][2]

Semantic evolution

In Middle English the word also meant redemption from sin and damnation.^[3][7] The verb appears in the early 14th century, meaning to make amends, to redeem, and to pay for the release of a captive.^[2][3][7] Etymonline calls it a faded word somewhat revived by Walter Scott in the early 19th century.^[3] The OED records the phrase a king's ransom for a very large sum.^[7]

Timeline

• probably before 1200 – rancun, a fine.^[2]
• about 1300 – the price paid for a captive.^[2][7]
• before 1325 – verb, to make amends; to redeem.^[2]
• 1377 – verb, to free by paying.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The price paid or demanded for the release of a captive or of seized property.
2. The release of a person or property in return for such a payment.
3. Deliverance from sin and its consequences; redemption.

Verb

1. To obtain the release of someone by paying the price demanded.
2. To release someone after receiving such a payment.
3. To deliver from sin and its penalty.

Word family

• ransomer
• king's ransom

Related words

• redemption
• redeem
• random
• seldom

Usage notes

Wiktionary notes that held for ransom is more common in the US and held to ransom in the UK.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ a b c Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
6. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press