Kidnapping

kidnapping
    n 1: (law) the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a
         person against their will and holding them in false
         imprisonment [syn: {kidnapping}, {snatch}]
    

kidnapping \kidnapping\ n.
   the unlawful act of capturing and carrying away a person
   against their will and holding them in false imprisonment.
   [WordNet 1.5]
    

Kidnap \Kid"nap`\ (k[i^]d"n[a^]p`), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Kidnaped} (k[i^]d"n[a^]pt`) or {Kidnapped}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Kidnaping} or {Kidnapping}.] [Kid a child + Prov. E. nap to
   seize, to grasp. Cf. {Knab}, {Knap}, {Nab}.]
   To take (any one) by force or fear, and against one's will,
   with intent to carry to another place. --Abbott.
   [1913 Webster]

         You may reason or expostulate with the parents, but
         never attempt to kidnap their children, and to make
         proselytes of them.                      --Whately.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: Originally used only of stealing children, but now
         extended in application to any human being,
         involuntarily abducted. Kidnaper
    

KIDNAPPING. The forcible and unlawful abduction and conveying away of a man, 
woman, or child, from his or her home, without his or her will or consent, 
and sending such person away, with an intent to deprive him or her of some 
right. This is an offence at common law. 
    

28 Moby Thesaurus words for "kidnapping":
      abduction, apprehension, arrest, arrestation, capture, catch,
      catching, collaring, coup, crimping, dragnet, forcible seizure,
      grab, grabbing, hold, impressment, nabbing, picking up, power grab,
      prehension, running in, seizure, seizure of power, shanghaiing,
      snatch, snatching, taking in, taking into custody