Chapter Ransom to Rappel of R by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Ransom to Rappel

Ransom
(Ran"som) n. [OE. raunson, raunsoun, OF. rançon, raençon, raançon, F. rançon, 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.

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.

Thy ransom paid, which man from death redeems.

Milton.

His captivity in Austria, and the heavy ransom he paid for his liberty.

Sir J. Davies.

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.

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.

Ransom
(Ran"som), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransomed (-sumd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ransoming.] [Cf. F. rançonner. 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.

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

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.

Ransomable
(Ran"som*a*ble) a. Such as can be ransomed.

Ransomer
(Ran"som*er) n. One who ransoms or redeems.

Ransomless
(Ran"som*less), a. Incapable of being ransomed; without ransom. Shak.

Rant
(Rant) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ranted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ranting.] [OD. ranten, randen, to dote, to be enraged.] To rave in violent, high-sounding, or extravagant language, without dignity of thought; to be noisy, boisterous, and bombastic in talk or declamation; as, a ranting preacher.

Look where my ranting host of the Garter comes!

Shak.

Rant
(Rant), n. High-sounding language, without importance or dignity of thought; boisterous, empty declamation; bombast; as, the rant of fanatics.

This is a stoical rant, without any foundation in the nature of man or reason of things.

Atterbury.

Ranter
(Rant"er) n.

1. A noisy talker; a raving declaimer.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) (a) One of a religious sect which sprung up in 1645; — called also Seekers. See Seeker. (b) One of the Primitive Methodists, who seceded from the Wesleyan Methodists on the ground of their deficiency in fervor and zeal; — so called in contempt.

Ranterism
(Rant"er*ism) n. (Eccl. Hist.) The practice or tenets of the Ranters.