extortion
UK /ɪkˈstɔːʃən/ · US /ɪkˈstɔɹʃən/ noun
Forms extortions
Etymology
From Middle English extorcion, from Anglo-Norman extorcion, extorcioun, extorsioun, from Late Latin extortiō, from extorqueō. By surface analysis, extort + -ion.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting anything from a person by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge.
- noun The offense committed by an officer who corruptly claims and takes, as his fee, money, or other thing of value, that is not due, or more than is due, or before it is due. Abbott.
Etymology [F. extorsion.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “extortion”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details