EXTOR'TION, noun The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting any thing from a person by force, duress, menaces, authority, or by any undue exercise of power; illegal exaction; illegal compulsion to pay money, or to do some other act. extortion is an offense punishable at common law. 1. Force or illegal compulsion by which any thing is taken from a person.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI