deforce
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to withhold (property, especially land) by force or violence, as from the rightful owner.
-
to eject or evict by force.
verb
-
to withhold (property, esp land) wrongfully or by force from the rightful owner
-
to eject or keep forcibly from possession of property
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deforce
1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French deforcer, Old French de ( s ) forcier, equivalent to de ( s )- de- + forc ( i ) er to force
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Two nights later, the company presented an even more stunning tour deforce, a balletic version of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
From Time Magazine Archive
But I had never seen the Duke of all the Wolfmark come riding home ere daybreak, laden with the plunder of captured castles and the rout of deforced cities.
From Red Axe by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
The captain was at first furious, and determined to resist; but he knew the danger of deforcing an officer with, such a writ as a habeas corpus, and found it necessary to yield.
From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 448 Volume 18, New Series, July 31, 1852 by Chambers, William
"Knowest thou the punishment of deforcing the king's messengers?" rejoined the King.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 4 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
