extort

[ ik-stawrt ]

/ ɪkˈstɔrt /

verb (used with object)

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.

Words nearby extort

extirpation, extn., extol, extorsion, extorsive, extort, extortion, extortionary, extortionate, extortionist, extr.

Origin of extort

1375–1425; late Middle English (adj.) < Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre, equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + torquēre to twist

SYNONYMS FOR extort

1 See extract.

OTHER WORDS FROM extort

ex·tort·er, nounex·tor·tive, adjectivenon·ex·tor·tive, adjectiveun·ex·tort·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for extorter

extort

/ (ɪkˈstɔːt) /

verb (tr)

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)

Derived forms of extort

extorter, nounextortive, adjective

Word Origin for extort

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012