extort

t. & i. [Lat. extort us, pa. par. of extorqueo to twist out: ex out, and torqueo = to twist; Fr. extorquer; Sp. & Port. estorcer; Ital. estorcere.] A. Transitive: I. Ordinary Language: 1. Phys.: Το wrest or wring anything from any person by physical force, threats, or torture, or undue exercise of power of any sort; to gain by force, to exact; to compel the surrender or giving of anything. ""Till the injurious Roman did extort This tribute from us, we were free." Shakesp.: Cymbeline, iii. 1. and against his will; as, to extort a promise from a 2. Ment.: To draw from a person with difficulty person; to extort an answer. "The king did not come into those conce ions seasonably, nor with a good grace: all appeared to be extorted from him."-Burnet: Hist. Own Time , bk. i. II. Law : To take by extortion. *B. In trans.: To practice extortion. "To whom they never gave any penny of entertainment, but let them feed upon the countries, and extort upon all men where they come." -Spenser: Present State of Ireland. *ex-tort', a. [Lat. extort us .] Extorted, gained by extortion or violence. [EXTORT, v .]