Forms: 4–6 extorcion, -cioun(e, 4 -cyoune, 5 -cyon, 4–7 extorsion, 4 -scion, -siun, 5 -sioun, -syoun, 6 -syon, 4– extortion. [ad. L. extortiōn-em, also extorsiōn-em, n. of action f. extorquēre (see EXTORT). Cf. F. extorsion.]

1

  1.  The action or practice of extorting or wresting anything, esp. money, from a person by force or by undue exercise of authority or power; an instance of this; an act of illegal exaction.

2

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 27825 (Cott.). O couaitise … cums … reuelaic, theft, extorsiun.

3

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr., v. (1866), 11. Thurghe extorcyone, as lordes duse.

4

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Friar’s T., 131. My wages ben ful streyt … by extorciouns I lyve.

5

1429.  Pol. Poems (1859), II. 142. Cherisshe thy lordes, hate extorcioun.

6

1593.  Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., I. iii. 132. The Clergies Bags Are lanke and leane with thy Extortions.

7

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxviii. 166. The continuance, and increasing of further extortion.

8

a. 1715.  Burnet, Own Time (1724), I. 306. To bring them [the Bankers] to an account for their usury, and extortions.

9

1858.  Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xvii. 494. By bribery and extortion he had obtained vast sums of money.

10

  b.  Law (see quot. 1769).

11

1607.  Cowell, Interpr., Extortion … signifieth … an unlawful or violent wringing of mony or mony worth from any man.

12

1674.  Essex Papers (Camden), I. 229. This Country hath long layn under great Oppressions by ye Extortion of ye Clerks of ye Crowne.

13

1769.  Blackstone, Comm., IV. 141. Extortion … consists in any officer’s unlawfully taking, by colour of his office, from any man, any money or thing of value, that is not due to him, or more than is due, or before it is due.

14

1789.  Bentham, Princ. Legisl., xiii. § 1. An act of extortion on the part of an officer of police.

15

1848.  in Wharton, Law Lex.

16

1861.  in W. Bell, Dict. Law Scot.

17

  † c.  An extortionate claim or impost. Obs.

18

1727.  De Foe’s Eng. Tradesman, Supp. 25. Paying an intollerable extortion of ten to fifteen or twenty per Cent. premium.

19

  † 2.  In etymological sense: a. A wresting of the sense of a word or phrase. b. A straining (of the nerves). Obs.

20

1652.  Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 27. The Italian Lawyers … do force themselves with all extortion to verifie upon the Western Emperor that saying.

21

1725.  Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Nerves, The same will also cure the Extorsions of the Nerves, if apply’d moderately hot.

22