Definition
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
A description of a thing by its properties; an explanation of the 'meaning of a word or term.
Webster.
The process of stating the exact meaning of a word by means of other words.
Worcester.
See Warner v. Beers, 23 Wend. (N. Y.) 103; Marvin v. State, 19 Ind. 181; Mickle v. Miles, 1 Grant, Cas. (Pa.) 328. thus, where a lord has a seignory, and lands escheat to him propter defectum sanguinis, but the seisin is withheld from him, this is a deforcement, and the persen who withholds the seisin ls called a "deforceor."
3 Bl. Comm. 172.
In Scotch law
The opposition or resistance made to messengers or other public of-ficors while they are actually engaged in the exercise of their offices.
Ersk. Inst 4, 4, 32.