EXTORT


Meaning of EXTORT in English

ikˈstȯ(ə)r]t, ek-, -ȯ(ə)], usu ]d.+V\ verb

( extorted ; extorted or obs extort ; extorting ; extorts )

Etymology: Latin extortus, past participle of extorquēre to wrench out, obtain by force, extort, from ex- ex- (I) + torquēre to twist — more at torture

transitive verb

1.

a.

(1) : to obtain from an unwilling or reluctant person by physical force, intimidation, or the abuse of legal or official authority : get by compelling : force , exact

till the injurious Romans did extort this tribute from us we were free — Shakespeare

extort bribes

(2) : to obtain from an unwilling or reluctant person by importunity, argument, or ingenuity

extort a confession

she did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged — Jane Austen

extorted his resignation in exchange — Seymour Freidin

b. : to elicit from someone unwilling by the obvious or apparent existence of an intrinsic compelling force

his intelligence extorted the admiration even of his worst enemies

2. : to derive (as a meaning or conclusion) by strained or perverse reasoning

they extorted a bizarre sense from the few words that had been spoken

intransitive verb

archaic : to obtain something forcibly from someone unwilling

Synonyms: see educe

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.