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-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] de·forcement n. |
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