3. (Law) A condition, relating to a deed, which being performed, the deed is defeated or rendered void; or
a collateral deed, made at the same time with a feoffment, or other conveyance, containing conditions,
on the performance of which the estate then created may be defeated.
Mortgages were usually made in this manner in former times, but the modern practice is to include the
conveyance and the defeasance in the same deed.
Defeasanced
(De*fea"sanced) a. (Law) Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.
Defeasible
(De*fea"si*ble) a. [See Defeasance.] Capable of being annulled or made void; as, a defeasible
title. — De*fea"si*ble*ness, n.
Defeat
(De*feat") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating.] [From F. défait, OF. desfait,
p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire, to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.]
His unkindness may defeat my life.
Shak. 2. To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all
his hopes.
Tillotson.
The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession.
Hallam.
In one instance he defeated his own purpose.
A. W. Ward. 3. To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
4. To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.
Sharp reasons to defeat the law.
Shak. Syn. — To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
Defeat
(De*feat"), n. [Cf. F. défaite, fr. défaire. See Defeat, v.]
1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.]
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damned defeat was made.
Shak. 2. Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
3. An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; — opposed to
victory.
