Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - ransom

n. & v. --n. 1 a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner. 2 the liberation of a prisoner in return for this. --v.tr. 1 buy the freedom or restoration of; redeem. 2 hold to ransom. 3 release for a ransom. Derivatives ransomer n. (in sense 1 of v.). Etymology: ME f. OF ransoun(er) f. L redemptio -onis REDEMPTION