Rich spoil of ransacked chastity.
Spenser.
Ran"sack, v. i. To make a thorough search.
To ransack in the tas [heap] of bodies dead.
Chaucer.
Ran"sack, n. The act of ransacking, or state of being ransacked;
pillage. [R.]
Even your father's house Shall not be free from ransack.
J. Webster.
Ran"som (rn"sm), 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.
Ran"som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ransomed (-smd); 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.