BLACKMAIL Meaning and
Definition
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Blackmail is a term that refers to the act of obtaining something, typically money or valuable items, from someone else by coercive or deceitful means. It involves threatening to reveal sensitive or damaging information about the victim unless the demanded sum or favor is provided. Blackmail is considered a form of extortion or social manipulation, aiming to exert control over the victim and exploit their vulnerability or fear of public humiliation.
The term "blackmail" derives from the fusion of two words: "black" refers to the malicious, illegal, or morally objectionable nature of the act, while "mail" dates back to the medieval period when communication was often done through written letters. Historically, these letters would include threats or compromising information, which were sent to intimidate or demand concessions from the recipient.
Blackmail can take various forms, including physical, digital, or verbal threats. It may involve disclosing confidential or scandalous information, damaging someone's reputation, or instigating legal action against the victim. The motive behind blackmail can be personal gain, revenge, coercion, or manipulation of a situation.
Blackmail is considered a criminal offense in many jurisdictions due to its harmful nature and violation of an individual's rights. Laws and legal systems are in place to protect individuals from being unjustly coerced or manipulated. Perpetrators of blackmail can face significant legal consequences, including imprisonment, fines, or other penalties depending on the severity of the offense.
Top Common Misspellings for BLACKMAIL *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for BLACKMAIL
Etymology of BLACKMAIL
The word "blackmail" originated in the mid-16th century in England. It is a combination of two words: "black" and "mail".
The term "mail" initially referred to a tribute or rent paid in feudal England, typically in the form of goods or services. However, over time, it evolved to encompass any kind of regular payment or tax.
The word "black" here is used in the sense of illegal or illicit, suggesting that this type of payment was not legitimate or lawful.
Therefore, "blackmail" originally referred to the illegal payment or tribute that tenants or serfs had to make to an outlaw or freebooter who would exact such payments under threat, coercion, or force. It eventually came to specifically denote the act of demanding money or other concessions by threat of revealing damaging or incriminating information.
Idioms with the word BLACKMAIL
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blackmail sm into doing sth
The idiom "blackmail someone into doing something" means to exert pressure or use threats or coercion against someone in order to make them do something they do not want to do or that is not in their best interest. It often involves using the threat of revealing damaging or compromising information about the person if they do not comply with the demands.
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blackmail into doing
The idiom "blackmail into doing" refers to the act of pressuring or coercing someone into performing a particular action or task by using threats or blackmail. It implies forcing someone to do something against their will or better judgment by using compromising information or threats to reveal damaging secrets or take harmful actions.
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blackmail (someone) into (something)
The idiom "blackmail (someone) into (something)" refers to the act of coercing or pressuring someone into doing something against their will or better judgment by using threats, manipulation, or the possibility of revealing damaging or incriminating information about them. It implies forcing or compelling someone to comply with certain demands or actions under the fear or threat of consequences.
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blackmail someone into doing something
The idiom "blackmail someone into doing something" refers to the act of coercing or pressuring someone into fulfilling a task or taking a particular action by threatening to reveal information or secrets that could harm them or their reputation. It involves manipulating someone’s vulnerability or fear in order to get them to comply with certain demands.
Similar spelling words for BLACKMAIL
- black magic,
- Black Maria,
- blacken,
- black hand,
- blacksmith,
- blackmailer,
- black gum,
- Black Maire,
- blacking,
- blackening,
- black marlin,
- black sumac,
- blackman,
- blacksnake,
- blackmails,
- black mamba,
- Blackmailed,
- blackmer,
- Black Mallee,
- blackmore,
- blackmon,
- black man.
Conjugate verb Blackmail
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have blackmailed
you
would have blackmailed
he/she/it
would have blackmailed
we
would have blackmailed
they
would have blackmailed
I
would have blackmail
you
would have blackmail
he/she/it
would have blackmail
we
would have blackmail
they
would have blackmail
CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
I
would have been blackmailing
you
would have been blackmailing
he/she/it
would have been blackmailing
we
would have been blackmailing
they
would have been blackmailing
CONDITIONAL PRESENT
I
would blackmail
you
would blackmail
he/she/it
would blackmail
we
would blackmail
they
would blackmail
CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
I
would be blackmailing
you
would be blackmailing
he/she/it
would be blackmailing
we
would be blackmailing
they
would be blackmailing
FUTURE
I
will blackmail
you
will blackmail
he/she/it
will blackmail
we
will blackmail
they
will blackmail
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be blackmailing
you
will be blackmailing
he/she/it
will be blackmailing
we
will be blackmailing
they
will be blackmailing
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have blackmailed
you
will have blackmailed
he/she/it
will have blackmailed
we
will have blackmailed
they
will have blackmailed
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been blackmailing
you
will have been blackmailing
he/she/it
will have been blackmailing
we
will have been blackmailing
they
will have been blackmailing
IMPERATIVE
we
Let's blackmail
you
blackmail
we
let´s blackmail
to blackmail
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was blackmailing
you
were blackmailing
he/she/it
was blackmailing
we
were blackmailing
they
were blackmailing
PAST PARTICIPLE
blackmailed
PAST PERFECT
I
had blackmailed
you
had blackmailed
he/she/it
had blackmailed
we
had blackmailed
they
had blackmailed
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been blackmailing
you
had been blackmailing
he/she/it
had been blackmailing
we
had been blackmailing
they
had been blackmailing
PRESENT
I
blackmail
you
blackmail
he/she/it
blackmails
we
blackmail
they
blackmail
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am blackmailing
you
are blackmailing
he/she/it
is blackmailing
we
are blackmailing
they
are blackmailing
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
blackmailing
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have blackmailed
you
have blackmailed
he/she/it
has blackmailed
we
have blackmailed
they
have blackmailed
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been blackmailing
you
have been blackmailing
he/she/it
has been blackmailing
we
have been blackmailing
they
have been blackmailing
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
he/she/it
blackmail
SIMPLE PAST
I
blackmailed
you
blackmailed
he/she/it
blackmailed
we
blackmailed
they
blackmailed
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