n. [ OF. defesance, fr. defesant, F. défaisant, p. pr. of defaire, F. défaire, to undo. See Defeat. ] 1. A defeat; an overthrow. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

After his foes' defeasance. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A rendering null or void. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) A condition, relating to a deed, which being performed, the deed is defeated or rendered void; or a collateral deed, made at the same time with a feoffment, or other conveyance, containing conditions, on the performance of which the estate then created may be defeated. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Mortgages were usually made in this manner in former times, but the modern practice is to include the conveyance and the defeasance in the same deed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Law) Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Malfeasance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. malfaisance, fr. malfaisant injurious, doing ill; mal ill, evil + faisant doing, p. pr. of faire to do. See Malice, Feasible, and cf. Maleficence. ] (Law) The doing of an act which a person ought not to do; evil conduct; an illegal deed. [ Written also malefeasance. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. pref. mes- wrong (L. minus less) + faisance doing, fr. faire to do, L. facere. Cf. Malfeasance. ] (Law) A trespass; a wrong arising from an overt act; the improper doing of an act which a person might lawfully do. Bouvier. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. non- + OF. faisance a doing, fr. faire to do. ] (Law) An omission or neglect to do something, esp. that which ought to have been done. Cf. Malfeasance. [ 1913 Webster ]