Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Extort
Ex-tort′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Extorted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Extorting
.] [L.
extortus
, p. p. of extorquere
to twist or wrench out, to extort; ex
out + torquere
to turn about, twist. See Torsion
.] 1.
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 vanquished; to extort
confessions of guilt; to extort
a promise; to extort
payment of a debt.Ex-tort′
,Verb.
I.
To practice extortion.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Ex-tort′
,p.
p.
& Adj.
[L.
extortus
. p. p.] Extorted.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Webster 1828 Edition
Extort
EXTORT'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To draw from by force or compulsion; to wrest or wring from by physical force, by menace, duress, violence, authority, or by an illegal means. Conquerors extort contributions from the vanquished; tyrannical princes extort money from their subjects; officers often extort illegal fees; confessions of guilt are extorted by the rack. A promise extorted by duress is not binding.2.
To gain by violence or oppression.EXTORT'
,Verb.
I.
Definition 2024
extort
extort
English
Verb
extort (third-person singular simple present extorts, present participle extorting, simple past and past participle extorted)
- (transitive) To take or seize off an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity
- to extort contributions from the vanquished
- to extort confessions of guilt
- to extort a promise
- to extort payment of a debt
- (transitive, law) To obtain by means of the offense of extortion.
- (transitive and intransitive, medicine, ophthalmology) To twist outwards.
Synonyms
Translations
to wrest from an unwilling person by undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity
to obtain by means of the offense of extortion