Blackmail

['blækmeɪl] or ['blækmel]

解釋/意思:

(noun.) extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information.

(verb.) obtain through threats.

(verb.) exert pressure on someone through threats.

阿伦編輯--From WordNet

解釋/意思:

(n.) A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected from pillage.

(n.) Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or censure.

(n.) Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest coin, a opposed to "white rent", which paid in silver.

(v. t.) To extort money from by exciting fears of injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation, distress of mind, etc.; as, to blackmail a merchant by threatening to expose an alleged fraud.

巴里整理

解釋/意思:

n. rent or tribute formerly paid to robbers for protection: hush-money extorted under threat of exposure or denunciation esp. of a baseless charge.—v.t. to extort money from a person by this expedient.

編輯:珀西