English Explanatory Dictionary

extort

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To take or seize from an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity.
  2. To obtain by means of the offense of extortion.
  3. To twist outwards.
adj
  1. extorted; obtained by extortion.

Pronunciation

/ɪkˈstɔː(ɹ)t/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-extort.wav

Word forms

extort extorts extorting extorted

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin extortus, past participle of extorquere (“to twist or wrench out, to extort”); from ex (“out”) + -tort, from torqueō (“twist, turn”).

Synonyms

wrench away to tear away to wring to exact

Related words

intort

Derived words

extortable extortee extorter extortion extortionate extortionist extortive sextort unextorted
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