Ransomed for Dummies

Ransomed is a word that might sound unfamiliar but it's actually quite interesting and I'm excited to explain it to you in a way that you can easily understand. When something or someone is ransomed, it means that they have been set free or released in exchange for a payment made by someone. It's like when you show your teacher your completed homework and she gives you a sticker in return. In this case, the sticker is the payment for your homework, and you have been 'released' from any consequences or punishments because of that. That's kind of what ransomed means.

Now, let me give you a real-life example to help you better understand the meaning of ransomed. Imagine you have a really special toy that you love and play with every day. One day, it gets lost or taken by someone else, and you really want it back. But the person who has it wants something in return for giving it back to you. So, you talk to your parents, and they agree to give the person a sum of money or some other valuable item, like another toy, in exchange for your special toy. Once they make that payment, the toy is returned to you, and you are happy again because you have been ransomed – the payment set you free from the situation where you didn't have your toy anymore.

Now, there is also another way to think about ransomed. It can also mean that someone demanded a payment for releasing a person who was being held captive or kidnapped. It's like when a superhero has to save someone from the clutches of a villain, and the villain wants a huge bag of money in exchange for letting the person go. Once the bag of money is given to the villain, the superhero has successfully ransomed the person and they are freed from captivity.

In summary, the word 'ransomed' means being set free or released in exchange for a payment. It could be a payment to get back something that was taken or lost, like your special toy, or it could be a payment to secure the release of someone who was being held captive. I hope this explanation helps you understand what ransomed means, and remember, if you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask!