mulct
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deprive (someone) of something, as by fraud, extortion, etc.; swindle.
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to obtain (money or the like) by fraud, extortion, etc.
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to punish (a person) by fine, especially for a misdemeanor.
noun
verb
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to cheat or defraud
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to fine (a person)
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of mulct
First recorded in 1475–85, mulct is from the Latin word mul(c)ta penalty involving loss of property
Explanation
The meaning of mulct is as nasty as it sounds; it means to fine someone or the money you collect as a result of a fine. No one wants to pay an extra mulct to the city, when it's the city who mismanaged the budget. Got mulct? Then somebody took your money. They "milked" you by mulcting you. And the money that they took? That's called mulct, too. Some people believe that there's no difference between being mulcted by the state and being shaken down by the mob. In fact, the word mulct is often used to mean having your money taken unfairly or as a kind of punishment or as extortion.
Vocabulary lists containing mulct
2015 Spelling Bee - Words from the Semifinals
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Martin Eden
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Time Warner figured it could mulct the other pay-TV companies for every last dime because, really, what TV service would dare not carry the Dodgers, whatever the price?
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2022
“Existing at the pleasure of the advertisers, to mulct the public, gratifying their stupidity, and render some small advance on investment to the owners, offering putative employment to their etiolated, wastrel sons.”
From Washington Post • Mar. 6, 2018
By hook and crook, he manages to mulct $3,000,000 in hush money.
From Time Magazine Archive
With his soft, eager voice he had been telling his chief that the German and French miners of potash were about to mulct the U. S. farmer who needs their soluble potashes for fertilizers.
From Time Magazine Archive
Be it premised, that the reason assigned for this mulct of the acolytes is that by the proceeds thereof the washing of their surplices may be paid for.
From Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
