extortion
UK[ɪkˈstɔːʃn]US[ɪkˈstɔːrʃn]
n
The crime of getting money or information from someone by using force or threats.
n
The act of charging someone an unfairly high price for something.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
tort
ion
ex
out
tort
twist
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word extortion has a vivid literal origin in the physical act of twisting something out. It derives from the Latin extortion-, from extorquere, meaning 'to wrench out, obtain by force'. This verb is composed of ex- ('out') and torquere ('to twist'). The core imagery is of forcibly twisting or wringing something out of a person, which evolved from a physical sense to the abstract legal and financial concept of obtaining money, property, or favors through coercion, intimidation, or the abuse of authority. The suffix -ion solidifies the action or result into a noun, naming the crime itself.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + tort (twist) + ion (noun suffix)
- ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out of, from, thoroughly."
- tort: Latin origin, from the root of torquere meaning "to twist, wring."
- ion: Latin origin, a suffix forming nouns denoting action or condition.
Examples
The gang was charged with extortion for threatening local businesses.
He was found guilty of extortion after blackmailing a public official.
The price they charged for the essential repairs felt like sheer extortion.