ransom

nouns

money demanded for the return of a captured person
ransom, ransom money
payment for the release of someone
ransom
is a type of (narrower)
the act of paying money
defrayal, defrayment, payment
the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
ransom
is a type of (narrower)
the act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost)
recovery, retrieval

verbs

exchange or buy back for money; under threat
ransom, redeem