1
- a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner赎金。
1.1
- mass noun the holding or freeing of a prisoner in return for payment of such money（为获赎金而对被俘者的）把持; 释放：
the capture and ransom of the king.
国王的被俘与赎回。
with obj.
1- obtain the release of (a prisoner) by making a payment demanded赎出（俘虏, 监禁者）：
the lord was captured in war and had to be ransomed.
王公在战争中被俘, 不得不用钱赎回。
1.1
- hold (a prisoner) and demand payment for their release把持（俘虏, 监禁者）索要赎金; 掳（人）索赎：
an English force burnt the village and ransomed the inhabitants.
一支英格兰部队放火烧了村庄, 扣留居民索要赎金。
1.2
- release (a prisoner) after receiving payment得赎金后释放（俘虏, 监禁者）。
短语
hold someone/thing to ransom
1
- hold someone prisoner and demand payment for their release掳…索赎, 绑…的票。
1.1
- demand concessions from a person or organization by threatening damaging action胁迫（人, 组织）妥协, 要挟（人, 组织）。
a king's ransom
- a huge amount of money; a fortune大笔钱财; 大笔财富。
词源
Middle English: from Old French ransoun (noun), ransouner (verb), from Latin redemptio（n-） 'ransoming, releasing' （see REDEMPTION）. Early use also occurred in theological contexts expressing deliverance' and 'atonement'.