deforce

(dē fôrs)

transitive verb deforced, deforcing

  1. to keep (property) from the rightful owner by force
  2. to keep (a person) from rightful possession by force

Origin: ME deforcen < Anglo-Fr deforcier < OFr de-, from + forcier, to force < VL *fortiare < LL forcia, fortia: see force

Related Forms:

See deforce in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb de·forced, de·forc·ing, de·forc·es
Law
To withhold (something) by force from the rightful owner.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English deforcen

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman deforcer

Origin: , from Old French desforcier

Origin: : des-, de-

Origin: + forcier, to force (from Vulgar Latin *fortiāre, from Latin fortis, strong; see bhergh-2 in Indo-European roots)

.

Related Forms:

  • de·forceˈment noun
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