Deforser
(De*fors"er) n. [From Deforce.] [Written also deforsor.] A deforciant. [Obs.] Blount.
Defoul
(De*foul") v. t. [See Defile, v. t.]
1. To tread down. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. To make foul; to defile. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Defraud
(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.
2 Cor. vii. 2.
Churches seem injured and defrauded of their rights.
Hooker. Defraudation
(De`frau*da"tion) n. [L. defraudatio: cf. F. défraudation.] The act of defrauding; a taking
by fraud. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
Defrauder
(De*fraud"er) n. One who defrauds; a cheat; an embezzler; a peculator.
Defraudment
(De*fraud"ment) n. [Cf. OF. defraudement.] Privation by fraud; defrauding. [Obs.] Milton.
Defray
(De*fray") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrayed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Defraying.] [F. défrayer; pref. dé- (L.
de or dis-) + frais expense, fr. LL. fredum, fridum, expense, fine by which an offender obtained peace
from his sovereign, or more likely, atoned for an offense against the public peace, fr. OHG. fridu peace,
G. friede. See Affray.]
1. To pay or discharge; to serve in payment of; to provide for, as a charge, debt, expenses, costs, etc.
For the discharge of his expenses, and defraying his cost, he allowed him . . . four times as much.
Usher. 2. To avert or appease, as by paying off; to satisfy; as, to defray wrath. [Obs.] Spenser.
Defrayal
(De*fray"al) n. The act of defraying; payment; as, the defrayal of necessary costs.
Defrayer
(De*fray"er) n. One who pays off expenses.
Defrayment
(De*fray"ment) n. Payment of charges.
Deft
(Deft) a. [OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf. OE. daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS.
dæft (in derivatives only) mild, gentle, fitting, seasonable; akin to dafen, gedafen, becoming, fit, Goth.
gadaban to be fit. Cf. Daft, Daff, Dapper.] Apt; fit; dexterous; clever; handy; spruce; neat. [Archaic or
Poetic] "The deftest way." Shak. "Deftest feats." Gay.
The limping god, so deft at his new ministry.
Dryden.
Let me be deft and debonair.
Byron. Deftly
(Deft"ly), adv. [Cf. Defly.] Aptly; fitly; dexterously; neatly. "Deftly dancing." Drayton.
Thyself and office deftly show.
Shak. Deftness
(Deft"ness), n. The quality of being deft. Drayton.
