Legal Definitions - deforce

Definition: To keep lands from the true owner by means of force, to oust another from possession by means of force, or to detain a creditor's money unjustly and forcibly.

Example: In the action of debt, the plaintiff complains that the defendant unjustly deforces him of the money owed.

Explanation: The term "deforce" is used to describe situations where someone is being kept from what rightfully belongs to them through the use of force. For example, if someone is being prevented from accessing their own land by someone else who is using force to keep them out, that person is being deforced. Similarly, if a creditor is owed money by someone who is refusing to pay, that creditor is being deforced of their money. The example given shows how the term "deforce" is used in the context of an action of debt, where the plaintiff is seeking to recover money that is rightfully theirs but is being withheld by the defendant through the use of force.