online medical dictionary | definition of extort

1. To wrest from an unwilling person by physical force, menace, duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or ingenuity; to wrench away (from); to tear away; to wring (from); to exact; as, to extort contributions from the vanquished; to extort confessions of guilt; to extort a promise; to extort payment of a debt.

2. To get by the offense of extortion. See Extortion.

Origin: L. Extortus, p. P. Of extorquere to twist or wrench out, to extort; ex out + torquere to turn about, twist. See Torsion.

(01 Mar 1998)