▪ I. † exˈtort, ppl. a. Obs.
Also 5–6 extorte.
[ad. L. extort-us, pa. pple. of extorquēre: see next.]
a. Extorted, wrongfully obtained (rarely as pa. pple.). b. esp. in extort power; whence a sense = ‘extortionate’ (in extort exactions).
| 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy v. xxxvi, By extorte tytle false successyon. 1492 Plumpton Corr. 264 Intendinge..to keepe the same [land] by extort power contrary to the law. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 24 The extorte exactions of innumerable summes of monei. 1596 Spenser F.Q. v. ii. 5 Hauing great Lordships got and goodly farmes, Through strong oppression of his powre extort. Ibid. v. x. 25 A Citie..by force extort out of her hand By her strong foe. |
▪ II. extort, v.
(ɛkˈstɔːt)
Also 6 extorte.
[f. L. extort- ppl. stem of extorquēre, f. ex- out + torquēre to twist.]
literally, To wrest or wring (something) from a person; to extract by torture.
1. trans. To obtain from a reluctant person by violence, torture, intimidation, or abuse of legal or official authority, or (in weaker sense) by importunity, overwhelming arguments, or any powerful influence. Const. of, from, out of, † upon. a. with obj. money, payments, etc. Also absol. to practise extortion.
| 1529 in Fiddes Wolsey ii. 175 Not for good order of the diocess but to extort treasure. c 1555 Fisher's Wks., Life 141 Lykwise for diuers bribes extorted vpon manie of his subiects. 1585 Abp. Sandys Serm. (1841) 287 He went..not to poll and pill, to extort and wring out of the people what he could; but..to do good. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. iii. i. 48 The..Romans, did extort This Tribute from vs. 1624 Capt. Smith Virginia (1629) 120 They would hold it worse than sacrilege to..extort upon the common souldier a penny. 1716–8 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. I. xxx. 98 The villages are so poor, that only force could extort from them necessary provisions. 1820 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life II. iv. 87 Taxes..are only extorted by threatening notices. 1883 Law Rep. 11 Q. Bench Div. 577 That the lord of a manor may ask for as much as he thinks that he can extort from the copyhold tenant. |
| absol. c 1592 Marlowe Jew of Malta ii. ii, With extorting, cozening [etc.]..I fill'd the jails with bankrouts in a year. 1598 R. Barckley Felic. Man ii. (1603) 125 Bribing and extorting upon his subjects. 1764 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. in Lett. (1772) I. 104 He extorted from the Jews..without any remorse. 1826 Hood Death's Ramble ix, He knew that sort of man would extort, Though summon'd to all eternity. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. 363 The rapacious governor had daily opportunities of embezzling and extorting. |
b. with immaterial obj., actions, utterances, manifestation of feeling, concessions, acknowledgements, promises, etc. Said both of persons and of circumstances or influences.
| 1550 Bale Image Both Ch. ii. xvii, Confession in the eare was cruellye extorted of Christian people vnder..payne of death. 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1596) 5/2 They haue extorted into their own hands the plenarie fulness of power. 1659 Hammond On Ps. vi. 6 Paraphr. 36 My agonies extort..tears from me. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. i. §15 Neither can hee deserve the name of a man, from whom the observation of the courses of the stars..does not extort gratitude. 1665 Glanvill Sceps. Sci. i. 12 The extorting a Confession of that Ignorance. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. i. §14 Concessions, which the force of truth seems to have extorted from you. c 1750 Shenstone Ruin'd Abbey 175 No solemn bell extort a neighbour's tear. 1771 Junius Lett. liv. 286 These praises are extorted from me. 1818 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. iv. 443 A situation which extorted the compassion of Englishmen. 1863 H. Cox Instit. i. vii. 80 The barons extorted from the King power to elect twelve ordainers. |
c. In literal sense: To wrest (a material object) from. rare.
| 1784 Cowper Task v. 189 Nations would do well To extort their truncheons from the puny hands Of heroes. |
2. To extract forcibly, ‘wring’ (a sense or conclusion) from (a passage, premises, etc.).
| 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. i. 165 Do not extort thy reasons from this clause. 1653 Milton Hirelings (1659) 31 From this example they never will be able to extort that the people in those days paid tithes to priests. Mod. How can you extort any other meaning from the passage? |
† 3. a. To practise extortion on (a person); in quot. 1561 with allusion to literal sense ‘to rack’. b. To ‘torture’, strain (a law). Obs.
| 1561 Godly Q. Hester (1873) 44 The commons he extorteth tyll they bee lame. 1612 Davies Why Ireland, etc. 276 They did extort and oppresse the people. 1616 J. Lane Sqr.'s Tale xi. 360 Captives..to Greece transported, sold, and by these badd mistresses extorted. 1681 Crowne Hen. VI, ii. 14 We may extort the law..to punish beyond bounds of law. |
Hence exˈtorting vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1599 Marston Sco. Villanie ii. v. 196 Though he laid forth all his stock and store Vpon some office..he will trebble it..by his extorting wit. 1641 Tapsters Downfall 7 Not branded with the extorting seale of avarice. a 1711 Ken Hymns Festiv. Poet. Wks. 1721 I. 379 Matthew..set in his extorting stall. 1715 Nelson Addr. Pers. Qual. 195 The many extorting Acts, which are practised in those Houses of Bondage. 1771 Goldsm. Hist. Eng. III. 64 She took several very extorting methods by loans. |
▪ III. † exˈtort, n. Obs.
[f. the vb.]
The action of the vb. extort; extortion, torture.
| 1556 J. Heywood Spider & F. lxxxviii. 165 Ye are sure..to get ought by your extort, Or get or kepe ought. 1541 Sch.-house Women 556 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 126 They meane it a nother way, And say, she is mans vtter extort. 1599 Bp. Hall Sat. iv. v. 103 Albee such mayne extort scorns to be pent, in the clay walles of thatched Tenement. [But possibly ‘mayne extort’ = extort power: see extort ppl. a.] |