The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ransom \Ran"som\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransomed (-s[u^]md); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Ransoming.] [Cf. F. ran[,c]onner. See
   Ransom, n.]
   1. 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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To exact a ransom for, or a payment on. [R.]
      [1913 Webster]

            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.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ransom \Ran"som\ (r[a^]n"s[u^]m), n. [OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF.
   ran[,c]on, raen[,c]on, raan[,c]on, F. ran[,c]on, fr. L.
   redemptio, fr. redimere to redeem. See Redeem, and cf.
   Redemption.]
   1. The release of a captive, or of captured property, by
      payment of a consideration; redemption; as, prisoners
      hopeless of ransom. --Dryden.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. 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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he
            paid for his liberty.                 --Sir J.
                                                  Davies.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (O. Eng. Law) 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. --Blackstone.
      [1913 Webster]

   Ransom bill (Law), a war contract, valid by the law of
      nations, for the ransom of property captured at sea and
      its safe conduct into port. --Kent.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

ransom
    n 1: money demanded for the return of a captured person [syn:
         ransom, ransom money]
    2: payment for the release of someone
    3: the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
    v 1: exchange or buy back for money; under threat [syn:
         ransom, redeem]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

60 Moby Thesaurus words for "ransom":
   buy, deliver, deliverance, delivery, emancipate, extract,
   extricate, extrication, free, freeing, get back, liberate,
   liberation, lifesaving, payment, price, recapture, reclaim,
   reclaiming, reclamation, recoup, recoupment, recover, recovery,
   recuperate, recuperation, recycle, redeem, redemption, regain,
   regainment, release, renovate, reoccupation, reoccupy, replevin,
   replevy, repossess, repossession, rescue, restoration, restore,
   resume, resumption, retake, retaking, retrieval, retrieve,
   revindicate, revindication, revival, revive, salvage, salvation,
   save, saving, set free, take back, trover, win back



Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Ransom
   the price or payment made for our redemption, as when it is said
   that the Son of man "gave his life a ransom for many" (Matt.
   20:28; comp. Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:23, 24; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal.
   3:13; 4:4, 5: Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; 1
   Pet. 1:18, 19. In all these passages the same idea is
   expressed). This word is derived from the Fr. rancon; Lat.
   redemptio. The debt is represented not as cancelled but as fully
   paid. The slave or captive is not liberated by a mere gratuitous
   favour, but a ransom price has been paid, in consideration of
   which he is set free. The original owner receives back his
   alienated and lost possession because he has bought it back
   "with a price." This price or ransom (Gr. lutron) is always said
   to be Christ, his blood, his death. He secures our redemption by
   the payment of a ransom. (See REDEMPTION.)


Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

RANSOM, contracts, war. An agreement made between the commander of a
capturing vessel with the commander of a vanquished vessel, at sea, by which
the former permits the latter to depart with his vessel, and gives him a
safe conduct, in consideration of a sum of money, which the commander of the
vanquished vessel, in his own name, and in the name of the owners of his
vessel and cargo, promises to pay at a future time named, to the other.
     2. This contract is usually made in writing in duplicate, one of which
is kept by the vanquished vessel which is its safe conduct; and the other by
the conquering vessel, which is properly called ransom bill.
     3. This contract, when made in good faith, and not locally prohibited,
is valid, and may be enforced. Such contracts have never been prohibited in
this country. 1 Kent, Com. 105. In England they are generally forbidden.
Chit. Law of Nat. 90 91; Poth. Tr. du Dr. de Propr. n. 127. Vide 2 Bro. Civ.
Law, 260; Wesk. 435; 7 Com. Dig. 201; Marsh. Ins. 431; 2 Dall. 15; 15 John.
6; 3 Burr. 1734. The money paid for the redemption of such property is also
called the ransom.



The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

RANSOM, n.  The purchase of that which neither belongs to the seller,
nor can belong to the buyer.  The most unprofitable of investments.


U.S. Gazetteer Counties (2000):

Ransom -- U.S. County in North Dakota
   Population (2000):    5890
   Housing Units (2000): 2604
   Land area (2000):     862.747134 sq. miles (2234.504725 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    1.381735 sq. miles (3.578678 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    864.128869 sq. miles (2238.083403 sq. km)
   Located within:       North Dakota (ND), FIPS 38
   Location:             46.478135 N, 97.668528 W
   Headwords:
    Ransom
    Ransom, ND
    Ransom County
    Ransom County, ND


U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000):

Ransom, IL -- U.S. village in Illinois
   Population (2000):    409
   Housing Units (2000): 159
   Land area (2000):     0.991359 sq. miles (2.567608 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    0.991359 sq. miles (2.567608 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            62757
   Located within:       Illinois (IL), FIPS 17
   Location:             41.155955 N, 88.653178 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     60470
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Ransom, IL
    Ransom


U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000):

Ransom, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas
   Population (2000):    338
   Housing Units (2000): 179
   Land area (2000):     0.326169 sq. miles (0.844774 sq. km)
   Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
   Total area (2000):    0.326169 sq. miles (0.844774 sq. km)
   FIPS code:            58500
   Located within:       Kansas (KS), FIPS 20
   Location:             38.635344 N, 99.932434 W
   ZIP Codes (1990):     67572
   Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   Headwords:
    Ransom, KS
    Ransom