Ex-tôrt'1, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. EXTORTED; p. pr. & vb. n. EXTORTING.] [Lat. extorquere, extortum, from ex, out of, from, and torquere, to turn about, twist; Fr. extorquer, Pr. extorser, estorser, Sp. & Pg. estorcer, It. estorquere, estorcere.]
- To wrest or wring from by physical force, by menace, duress, violence, authority, or by any illegal means; to wrench away from; to gain by force; to exact; as, to extort contributions from the vanquished; to extort confessions of guilt, and the like.
- (Law.) To take unlawfully, as an officer, by color of his office, any money or thing of value, that is not due, or more than is due, or before it is due.