extort — ex·tort /ik stȯrt/ vt [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… … Law dictionary
extort — ex‧tort [ɪkˈstɔːt ǁ ɔːrt] verb [transitive] LAW to illegally force someone to give you money by threatening them: extort money from/out of somebody • Smith was arrested on suspicion of having extorted property and money from at least 18 clients … Financial and business terms
Extort — Ex*tort , v. i. To practice extortion. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Extort — Ex*tort , p. p. & a. [L. extortus. p. p.] Extorted. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
extort — 1520s (as a pp. adj. from early 15c.), from L. extortus, pp. of extorquere (see EXTORTION (Cf. extortion)). Related: Extorted; extorting … Etymology dictionary
extort — extract, *educe, elicit, evoke Analogous words: draw, drag, *pull: compel, *force, constrain, oblige, coerce: exact, *demand, require … New Dictionary of Synonyms
extort — [v] cheat; blackmail bleed*, bully, clip, coerce, demand, educe, elicit, evince, exact, extract, fleece, force, get, gouge, hold up*, ice*, make pay through nose*, milk*, obtain, pinch, pull one’s leg*, put screws to*, put the arm on*, secure,… … New thesaurus
extort — ► VERB ▪ obtain by force, threats, or other unfair means. DERIVATIVES extorter noun extortion noun extortioner noun extortionist noun extortive adjective. ORIGIN Latin extorquere, from torquere twist … English terms dictionary
extort — [ek stôrt′, ikstôrt′] vt. [< L extortus, pp. of extorquere, to twist or turn out < ex , out + torquere, to twist: see TORT] to get (money, etc.) from someone by violence, threats, misuse of authority, etc.; exact or wrest (from) SYN.… … English World dictionary
extort — verb a) To wrest from an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity; to wrench away (from); to tear away; to wring (from); to exact; as, to extort contributions from the… … Wiktionary