Part 113

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.

De*for`ci*a"tion (?), n. (Law) Same as Deforcement, n.

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De*for"est (?), v. t. To clear of forests; to disforest. U. S. Agric. Reports.

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.

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.

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.

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.

De*form"er (?), n. One who deforms.

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.

De*fors"er (?), n. [From Deforce.] [Written also deforsor.] A deforciant. [Obs.] Blount.

De*foul" (?), v. t. [See Defile, v. t.] 1. To tread down. [Obs.] Wyclif.

2. To make foul; to defile. [Obs.] Wyclif.

De*fraud" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrauded; p. pr. & vb. n. Defrauding.] [L. defraudare; de- + fraudare to cheat, fr. fraus, fraudis, fraud: cf. OF. defrauder. See Fraud.] To deprive of some right, interest, or property, by a deceitful device; to withhold from wrongfully; to injure by embezzlement; to cheat; to overreach; as, to defraud a servant, or a creditor, or the state; -- with of before the thing taken or withheld.

We have defrauded no man.