RANSOM

n. redemption of a prisoner for a price; sum paid for the release of a prisoner

v. release, liberate, free; pay money for the release of a prisoner

Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved. Holding people for ransom has occurred throughout history. In 78 BC, pirates of modern-day Turkey captured Julius Caesar and held him on Pharmacusa until someone paid a fee for him. It also refers to demanding concessions from a person or organization by threatening damaging action.
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For other uses of the term, see Ransom (disambiguation).Ransom! is a 1956 crime drama examining the reactions of parents, police, and the public to a kidnapping. Written by Richard Maibaum and Cyril Hume, the film was based on a popular episode of "The United States Steel Hour" titled "Fearful Decision," which aired in 1954. Directed by stage and television veteran Alex Segal, the film starred Glenn Ford, Donna Reed, and Leslie Nielsen.
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Noun
1. money demanded for the return of a captured person
(synonym) ransom money
(hypernym) cost
(derivation) redeem
2. payment for the release of someone
(hypernym) payment, defrayal, defrayment
(derivation) redeem
3. the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
(hypernym) recovery, retrieval
(derivation) redeem
Verb
1. exchange or buy back for money; under threat
(synonym) redeem
(hypernym) exchange, change, interchange
(classification) crime, law-breaking

(n.)
To redeem from captivity, servitude, punishment, or forfeit, by paying a price; to buy out of servitude or penalty; to rescue; to deliver; as, to ransom prisoners from an enemy.
  

(n.)
To exact a ransom for, or a payment on.
  

(n.)
The release of a captive, or of captured property, by payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners hopeless of ransom.
  

(n.)
The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods captured by an enemy; payment for freedom from restraint, penalty, or forfeit.
  

(n.)
A sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; also, a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.
  

The idea that a knight would be captured rather than killed if defeated. In war, this generally meant the payment of a large capital sum, while in tourney it often meant forfeiture of armour and horse. See also Armour, as insurance .