In law, to wrongfully withhold or take possession of something, especially land or property.
From Old French 'deforcer,' from de- (remove) + force (strength). This archaic legal term refers to seizing property by force or withholding it unlawfully, prominent in medieval English law.
In medieval England, 'deforce' was a serious crime—it meant a knight or lord violently seized your land and refused to give it back, often leaving you in permanent legal limbo because courts moved slowly.
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