The act of obtaining something, especially money, from someone through force, threats, or coercion.
From Latin 'extorsio' (from 'extorquere': ex- 'out' + torquere 'to twist'), literally meaning 'twisting out.' The sense evolved from physical twisting to forcibly extracting something from someone.
The word 'torture' and 'extortion' come from the same Latin root 'torquere' (to twist)—both involve applying painful pressure to force something out of someone.
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