ransomとは

意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹænsəm/

名詞

ransom (usually uncountable, 複数形 ransoms)

1. Money paid for the freeing of a hostage.

   They were held for two million dollars ransom.

   They were held to ransom.

   • 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book XII:

     Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.

   • 1612, John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued

     His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty.

   • 2010, Caroline Alexander, The War That Killed Achilles: The True Story of Homer's Iliad:

     As rich as was the ransom Priam paid for Hektor, Hermes says, his remaining sons at Troy “'would give three times as much ransom / for you, who are alive, were Atreus' son Agamemnon / to recognize you.'”

2. The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration.

   prisoners hopeless of ransom

   • a. 1701, John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, OCLC 863244003:

     Till the fair slave be rendered to her sire; And ransom-free restored to his abode

3. (historical, law, Britain) A sum paid for the pardon of some great offence and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.
   • 1765, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, book I (Of the Rights of Persons), Oxford: […] Clarendon Press, OCLC 65350522:

     punished with imprisonment and ransom at the King's will

使用する際の注意点

• "held for ransom" is much more common in the US, "held to ransom" in the UK.

派生語

• king's ransom
• ransom strip
• ransomware

動詞

ransom (三人称単数 現在形 ransoms, 現在分詞 ransoming, 過去形および過去分詞形 ransomed)

1. (14th century) To deliver, especially in context of sin or relevant penalties.
2. To pay a price to set someone free from captivity or punishment.

   to ransom prisoners from an enemy

3. To exact a ransom for, or a payment on.

   Such lands as he had rule of he ransomed them so grievously, and would tax the men two or three times in a year. — Berners.