▪ I. deforce, v.
(dɪˈfɔəs)
Also 5–6 deforse.
[a. AF. deforcer (11th c.) = OF. deforcier (des-, def-), f. des-, de- (de- I. 6) + forcier, forcer to force (or from the Romanic forms of these): in med.L. dif-, dēforciare (Du Cange). Cf. efforce, enforce.]
1. Law. (trans.) To keep (something) by force or violence (from the person who has a right to it); to withhold wrongfully.
| [1292 Britton i. xix. §8 Nos eschetes defforcez (transl. Escheats deforced from us). Ibid. iii. xxi. §1 Tiel qi la..rente deforce tient (tr. who holds the rent deforced).] c 1470 Harding Chron. lxxx. i, Arthure.. emperour of Rome by title of right, [Whiche deforced] by Lucius Romain, Pretendyng hym for emperour of might. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 28 Command B. that..he..restore to M...her reasonabill dowrie..And inquire him, for quhat cause he deforces and deteins the samine fra her. 1765 Lond. Chron. 23 Nov. 500 The cutter is said to have deforced Capt. Duncan's boat..off the island of May. 1865 Nichols Britton II. 6 It sometimes happens..that he who has no right deforces the wardship from him who has a better right [deforce la garde a celi qi major dreit ad]. |
† b. gen. To take or keep away by force. Obs.
| 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. xiv, For you my wyfe, for you myne owne Heleine, That be deforced fro me, welaway. 1494 Fabyan Chron. I. 215 (R.) This Lowys..maryed the doughter of Guy..the which after, for nerynesse of kynne, was deforced from the sayd Lowys. |
2. To eject (a person) by force from his property; to keep (him) forcibly out of the possession of; to deprive wrongfully.
| 1531 Dial. on Laws Eng. ii. xxv. (1638) 109 Where a Parson of a Church is wrongfully deforced of his Dismes. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 7 §7 Personnes..dysseased, deforsed, wronged, or otherwyse..put from their lawfull inheritance. 1586 J. Ferne Lacies Nobilitie 35 Stephen was a wrongfull possessour of the Crowne, for he deforced Mawd..of her right. 1602 W. Fulbecke 2nd Pt. Parall. 57 A Nuper obijt ought to be brought by that Coparcener, who is deforced from the tenements, against all the other Coparceners which do deforce her. 1741 T. Robinson Gavelkind vi. 105 [He] enters on the whole Land on the Death of the Ancestor and deforces the other. 1865 Nichols Britton II. 257 Peter wrongfully deforces her of the third part of so much land. |
3. Sc. Law. To prevent by force (an officer of the law) from executing his official duty.
| 1461 Liber Pluscardensis xi. xi. (1877) I. 399 Deforsand serrefis, masaris or sergeand. 1579 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1597) §75 In case the officiar..beis violently deforced and stopped in execution of his office. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. Table 75 He quha deforces the kings officiars, and stops the taking of poynds. 1816 Scott Antiq. xlii, If you interrupt me in my duty, I will..declare myself deforced. 1885 Manch. Exam. 18 Mar. 4/7 Crofters charged with deforcing a sheriff's officer while attempting to serve summonses for arrears of rent. |
† 4. To commit rape upon, to force. Sc. Obs.
| 1528 Lyndesay Dreme 1098 Tak tent, how prydful Tarquyne tynt his croun, For the deforsyng of Lucres. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 173 Mogallus..deforsit virginis and matronis. |
▪ II. † deˈforce, n. Sc. Obs.
[f. the vb.]
= deforcement.
| 1479 Act. Dom. Conc. 33 (Jam.) That Johne Lindissay..sall restore to James lord Hammiltoune..a kow of a deforce, a salt mert, a mask fat. Ibid. 38 That he has made na deforss. |