extort
[ik-stawrt]
- Law.
- to wrest or wring (money, information, etc.) from a person by violence, intimidation, or abuse of authority; obtain by force, torture, threat, or the like.
- to take illegally by reason of one's office.
- to compel (something) of a person or thing: Her wit and intelligence extorted their admiration.
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Origin of extort
1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + torquēre to twist
Synonyms
See more synonyms for extort on Thesaurus.com1. See extract.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
extort
- to secure (money, favours, etc) by intimidation, violence, or the misuse of influence or authority
- to obtain by importunate demandsthe children extorted a promise of a trip to the zoo
- to overcharge for (something, esp interest on a loan)
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin extortus wrenched out, from extorquēre to wrest away, from torquēre to twist, wrench
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for extorter
extort
v.
1520s (as a past participle adj. from early 15c.), from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquere (see extortion). Related: Extorted; extorting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper