deforce

de·force

 (dē-fôrs′)

tr.v. de·forced, de·forc·ing, de·forc·es Law

1. To withhold (property, for example) from the rightful owner.

2. To deprive (a rightful owner) of something, especially property.

---

[Middle English deforcen, from Anglo-Norman deforcer, from Old French desforcier : des-, de- + forcier, to force (from Vulgar Latin *fortiāre, from Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh- in Indo-European roots).]

---

de·force′ment n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

deforce

(dɪˈfɔːs)

vb (tr)

1. (Law) to withhold (property, esp land) wrongfully or by force from the rightful owner

2. (Law) to eject or keep forcibly from possession of property

[C13: from Anglo-French, from deforcer]

deˈforcement n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•force

(dɪˈfɔrs, -ˈfoʊrs)

v.t. -forced, -forc•ing.

1. to withhold (land or other property) by force, as from the rightful owner.

2. to evict by force.

[1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French deforcer, Old French de(s)forcier=de(s)- de- + forc(i)er to force]

de•force′ment, n.

de•forc′er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

deforce

Past participle: deforced
Gerund: deforcing

Imperative

deforce

deforce

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011