extort

Where does the word "extort" come from? It comes from Latin torquere, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Extort’s story begins in Latin: torquere meant “to twist.” To twist, combined with ex- (out). Within Latin, it grew into extorquere by ancient. To twist out, to wrench away, from ex- and torquere. It reached English by 1500s as extort. Settled as the English word for obtaining something through force or threats. Today, extort means to obtain something from someone through force, threats, or intimidation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient torquere "to twist", to twist, combined with ex- (out).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient extorquere "to twist out, to wrench away", to twist out, to wrench away, from ex- and torquere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s extort "to obtain something through force, threats, or intimidation", settled as the English word for obtaining something through force or threats.