withhold wrongfully the possession of, as of lands or a freehold. (b) (Scots Law) To resist the execution
of the law; to oppose by force, as an officer in the execution of his duty. Burrill.
Deforcement
(De*force"ment) n. [OF.] (Law) (a) A keeping out by force or wrong; a wrongful withholding,
as of lands or tenements, to which another has a right. (b) (Scots Law) Resistance to an officer in the
execution of law. Burrill.
Deforceor
(De*force"or) n. Same as Deforciant. [Obs.]
Deforciant
(De*for"ciant) n. [OF. deforciant, p. pr. of deforcier. See Deforce.] (Eng. Law) (a) One
who keeps out of possession the rightful owner of an estate. (b) One against whom a fictitious action
of fine was brought. [Obs.] Burrill.
Deforciation
(De*for`ci*a"tion) n. (Law) Same as Deforcement, n.
Deforest
(De*for"est) v. t. To clear of forests; to disforest. U. S. Agric. Reports.
Deform
(De*form") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deformed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deforming.] [L. deformare; de- +
formare to form, shape, fr. forma: cf. F. déformer. See Form.]
1. To spoil the form of; to mar in form; to misshape; to disfigure.
Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time
Into this breathing world.
Shak. 2. To render displeasing; to deprive of comeliness, grace, or perfection; to dishonor.
Above those passions that this world deform.
Thomson. Deform
(De*form"), a. [L. deformis; de- + forma form: cf. OF. deforme, F. difforme. Cf. Difform.]
Deformed; misshapen; shapeless; horrid. [Obs.]
Sight so deform what heart of rock could long
Dry-eyed behold?
Milton. Deformation
(Def`or*ma"tion) n. [L. deformatio: cf. F. déformation.]
1. The act of deforming, or state of anything deformed. Bp. Hall.
2. Transformation; change of shape.
Deformed
(De*formed") a. Unnatural or distorted in form; having a deformity; misshapen; disfigured; as, a
deformed person; a deformed head. — De*form"ed*ly adv. — De*form"ed*ness, n.
Deformer
(De*form"er) n. One who deforms.
Deformity
(De*form"i*ty) n.; pl. Deformities [L. deformitas, fr. deformis: cf. OF. deformeté, deformité,
F. difformité. See Deform, v. & a., and cf. Disformity.]
1. The state of being deformed; want of proper form or symmetry; any unnatural form or shape; distortion; irregularity
of shape or features; ugliness.
To make an envious mountain on my back,
Where sits deformity to mock my body.
Shak. 2. Anything that destroys beauty, grace, or propriety; irregularity; absurdity; gross deviation from order or
the established laws of propriety; as, deformity in an edifice; deformity of character.
Confounded, that her Maker's eyes
Should look so near upon her foul deformities.
Milton.
