Release money to various Italian city-dwellers? (6)
I believe the answer is:
ransom
'release' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ransom that I've seen before include "Kidnapper's payoff" , "Go beyond (a level)" , "Money to get a hostage released" , "Redeem" , "Payment demanded for release of captive" .)