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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.