HOLDING RANSOM Meaning and
Definition
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Holding ransom refers to the act of demanding payment or other concession in exchange for the release of a person, property, or information that has been unlawfully seized or detained. It involves keeping someone or something as a hostage, thereby exerting control or exerting pressure on individuals, groups, or organizations to meet certain demands. This practice is considered a form of coercive tactics often employed by criminals, terrorists, or individuals seeking to gain advantage through illicit means.
In the case of a person being held ransom, they are usually abducted or taken hostage by perpetrators who seek financial gain, political leverage, or the fulfillment of specific demands. The ransom can take the form of a large sum of money, valuable assets, or other concessions such as the release of fellow associates in custody, public statements of compliance, or specific actions committed by the authorities.
Similarly, in the context of holding information or property ransom, perpetrators possess sensitive data, intellectual property, or valuable belongings that they withhold until their demands are met. This extortionate tactic aims to exploit the victim's vulnerability and secure gain at their expense.
Holding ransom is deemed unlawful and is universally condemned as it violates personal freedom, integrity, and property rights. Governments, law enforcement agencies, and international organizations work diligently to combat and prevent such criminal activities, often resorting to negotiation, specialized hostage rescue teams, or legal interventions to secure the release of hostages or the recovery of seized assets.
Common Misspellings for HOLDING RANSOM
- golding ransom
- bolding ransom
- nolding ransom
- jolding ransom
- uolding ransom
- yolding ransom
- hilding ransom
- hklding ransom
- hllding ransom
- hplding ransom
- h0lding ransom
- h9lding ransom
- hokding ransom
- hopding ransom
- hooding ransom
- holsing ransom
- holxing ransom
- holcing ransom
- holfing ransom
Etymology of HOLDING RANSOM
The phrase "holding ransom" can be broken down into two parts: "holding" and "ransom".
The word "holding" comes from the Old English word "healdan", which means "to keep, to hold, to possess". It eventually evolved into the Middle English word "holden".
The word "ransom" comes from the Old French word "ransom", a noun derived from the verb "ransomer" meaning "to buy back, redeem". It further traces its roots to the Late Latin word "redemptio", meaning "a buying back, a redemption".
Combining these two words, "holding ransom" implies the act of keeping someone or something in custody until a payment or "ransom" is made to secure their release.
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