ransom
money that is paid to set someone free
TRANSLATION
ransom = das Lösegeld --- How important is this English word? ransom: 12,700,000 Google Hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Hundreds of Iraqi businessmen and professionals have been abducted and held for RANSOM since the collapse of the Saddam Hussein government and the subsequent breakdown of law and order in Iraq last year.
(Asia Times)
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Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the Blackberry handheld device, is being held for RANSOM by a patent troll*.
(adapted from the Economist)
*Note: a patent troll is a term used to describe a patent owner, frequently a small company, that enforces patent rights against accused infringers (mutmaßliche Patentverletzer), but does not manufacture products or supply services based on the patents in question.
(Asia Times)
---
Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of the Blackberry handheld device, is being held for RANSOM by a patent troll*.
(adapted from the Economist)
*Note: a patent troll is a term used to describe a patent owner, frequently a small company, that enforces patent rights against accused infringers (mutmaßliche Patentverletzer), but does not manufacture products or supply services based on the patents in question.
Did you
know?
ransom
noun
- A large sum of money which is demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner.
verb
To pay money in order to set someone free
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
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WORD ORIGIN
From the Latin redimere (re = back and emere = to take, buy or gain), Old French ranson and French rancon meaning to buy something back.
(adapted from the Online Etymology Dictionary)
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SYNONYMS
noun form: release, payoff, bribe, liberation, rescue
verb form: buyout, emancipate, redeem, liberate, extricate
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IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
“Our business is being held for ransom by the current price of oil.”
noun
- A large sum of money which is demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner.
verb
To pay money in order to set someone free
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
WORD ORIGIN
From the Latin redimere (re = back and emere = to take, buy or gain), Old French ranson and French rancon meaning to buy something back.
(adapted from the Online Etymology Dictionary)
---
SYNONYMS
noun form: release, payoff, bribe, liberation, rescue
verb form: buyout, emancipate, redeem, liberate, extricate
---
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
“Our business is being held for ransom by the current price of oil.”
