ransom
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ransom
A sum of money or another service that is demanded and paid for the release of a kidnapped person or the return of stolen or seized property.
Die Entführer verlangten ein Lösegeld in Höhe von einer Million Euro.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of one million euros.
'Lösegeld' (ransom) consists of the stem of the verb 'lösen' (in the sense of to free or release) and the noun 'das Geld' (money). So it is literally 'money for freeing someone or something'.
Historisch war die Zahlung von Lösegeld für adlige Gefangene üblich.
Historically, the payment of ransom for noble prisoners was common.
The most common verbs in connection with ransom are 'fordern' or 'verlangen' (to demand, from the kidnappers' point of view) and 'zahlen' or 'übergeben' (to pay or hand over, from the other side's point of view).
Die Polizei riet davon ab, das geforderte Lösegeld zu zahlen.
The police advised against paying the demanded ransom.
The demand is often expressed with a prepositional construction that names the amount and the purpose. The structure 'Lösegeld in Höhe von ... für ...' (ransom in the amount of ... for ...) is typical.
Es wurde ein Lösegeld für die Freilassung der Geiseln verlangt.
A ransom was demanded for the release of the hostages.
