ran·som 
(rănsəm)
(rănsəm)n.
1.
a. The release of property or a person in return for payment of a demanded price.
b. The price or payment demanded or paid for such release.
2. Christianity A redemption from sin and its consequences.
tr.v. ran·somed, ran·som·ing, ran·soms
1.
a. To obtain the release of by paying a certain price.
b. To release after receiving such a payment.
2. Christianity To deliver from sin and its consequences.
[Middle English raunson, raunsom, from Old French rançon, from Latin redēmptiō, redēmptiōn-, a buying back; see REDEMPTION.]
ransom·er n.
- parajournalistic
- parakeet
- paralanguage
- paraldehyde
- paralegal
- paralinguistic
- paralinguistically
- paralinguistics
- parallactic
- parallax
- parallel
- parallel bars
- parallel computing
- parallel cousin
- parallelepiped
- parallelism
- parallelogram
- parallel processing
- parallel universe
- paralog
- paralogism
- paralogist
- paralogistic
- paralogous
- paralogue