in law, (breve de forma donationis) a writ that lies for a person who has a right to lands or tenements, by virtue of any entail, arising from the statute of Welford, 3 Ch. II.

This writ is of three kinds, viz. a defender, remainder, and reverter. Formedon in defender, lies where a tenant in tail infers a stranger, or is disfitted and dies, the heir may bring this writ to recover the lands. Formedon in remainder, lies where a man gives lands, &c. to a person in tail, and, for default of issue of his body, the remainder to another in tail; here if the tenant in tail die without issue, and a stranger abates and enters into the land, no remainder shall have this writ. Formedon in reverter, lies where lands are entailed on certain persons and their issue, with remainder over for want of issue; and, on that remainder failing, then to revert to the donor and his heirs: in this case, if the tenant in tail dies without issue, and also be in remainder, the donor and his heirs, to whom the reversion returns, may have this writ for the recovery of the estate, though the same be alienated, &c.