Where does “ransomware” come from?

ransomware (Czech) comes from English ransomware, from English ransom, from Middle English ransoun, from Old French raençon, from Latin redemptio, from Latin redimō, from Latin rĕ-, from Latin prōdūcō — passed , crossed.

ransomware (Czech): ransomware

Definitions

  1. ransomware

Ancestry of “ransomware”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishransomwareMalware that holds the data of a computer user...
2EnglishransomMoney paid for the freeing of a hostage; The...
3Middle EnglishransounAlternative form of raunsoun
4Old Frenchraençonfee paid to release someone from prison or...
5Latinredemptioredemption, redeeming
6Latinredimōto buy back, repurchase, redeem
7Latinrĕ-back, backwards
8Latinprōdūcōto lead or bring forth, forward or out
9Latinprō-forward direction, forward movement
10Proto-Italic*pro-pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
13Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
14Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós