Extort
/ɪkˈstɔːrt/noun
To obtain something, especially money, through force or threats.
Did you know?The roots of 'extort' connect to ancient practices of coercion, where individuals would literally twist the truth to extract wealth.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
extorquēre
“to twist out or away, to obtain by force”
Late Middle Ages
Old French
extorquer
“to extract by threat or intimidation”
14th Century
Middle English
extorten
“to pull or draw out by violent means”
Modern English
English
extort
“to obtain by coercion or intimidation, particularly money or property”