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extort

 - 3 dictionary results

ex⋅tort

  [ik-stawrt]
Use extort in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. Law.
a. 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.
b. to take illegally by reason of one's office.
2. to compel (something) of a person or thing: Her wit and intelligence extorted their admiration.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME (adj.) < L extortus, ptp. of extorquēre, equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + torquēre to twist

Related forms:
ex⋅tort⋅er, noun
ex⋅tor⋅tive, adjective

Synonyms:
1. See extract.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To extort
ex·tort   (ĭk-stôrt')   
tr.v.   ex·tort·ed, ex·tort·ing, ex·torts
To obtain from another by coercion or intimidation.

[Latin extorquēre, extort-, to wrench out, extort : ex-, ex- + torquēre, to twist; see terkw- in Indo-European roots.]
ex·tort'er n., ex·tor'tive adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ex·tort
Pronunciation: ik-'stort
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Latin extortus, past participle of extorquere to remove by twisting, obtain by force, from ex- out + torquere to twist
: to obtain (as money) from a person by force, intimidation, or undue or unlawful use of authority or power —ex·tort·er noun —ex·tor·tive /-'stor-tiv/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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