deforce (redirected from deforces)

de·force  (d-fôrs, -frs)

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

To withhold (something) by force from the rightful owner.

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[Middle English deforcen, from Anglo-Norman deforcer, from Old French desforcier : des-, de- + forcier, to force (from Vulgar Latin *fortire, from Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-² in Indo-European roots).]

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de·forcement n.

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deforce [dɪˈfɔːs]

vb (tr) Property law

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

[from Anglo-French, from deforcer]

deforcement  n