to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually fol. by from or against): The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.
2.
to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold: She defended her claim successfully.
3.
to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).
4.
Law. to serve as attorney for (a defendant): He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.
5.
to support (an argument, theory, etc.) in the face of criticism; prove the validity of (a dissertation, thesis, or the like) by answering arguments and questions put by a committee of specialists.
6.
to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger.
–verb (used without object)
7.
Law. to enter or make a defense.
[Origin: 1200–50; ME defenden < OF defendre < L défendere to ward off, equiv. to dé-de-+ -fendere to strike]
—Related forms
de·fend·a·ble, adjective
de·fend·er, noun
—Synonyms 1. shelter, screen, shield; garrison, fortify. Defend,guard,preserve,protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to guard a camp. To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously: to preserve a spirit of conciliation. To protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier: to protect books by means of heavy paper covers. 2. vindicate.
To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm.
Sports
To attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring while playing in or near (a goal or area of a field, for example).
To be responsible for guarding (an opposing player).
To compete against a challenger in an attempt to retain (a championship).
To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.
To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim).
To support or maintain, as by argument or action; justify.
Law
To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.
To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim).
v.
intr.
To make a defense.
Sports To play defense.
[Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere, to ward off; see gwhen- in Indo-European roots.]
de·fend'a·ble adj., de·fend'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm. Defend implies repelling an attack: defending her territory; defended his reputation. Protect often suggests providing a barrier to discomfort, injury, or attack: bought a dog to protect the children; wore sunglasses to protect her eyes. Guard suggests keeping watch: guarded the house against intruders.
To preserve is to take measures to maintain something in safety: ecologists working to preserve our natural resources. Shield suggests protecting with a piece of defensive armor: hid the newspaper to shield me from the bad news. Safeguard stresses protection against potential danger: The Bill of Rights safeguards our individual liberties.
c.1250, from O.Fr. defendre, from L. defendere "ward off, protect," from de- "from, away" + fendere "to strike, push." In the Mercian hymns, L. defendet is glossed by O.E. gescildeð. Defendant is from O.Fr. prp of defendre.
De*fend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] [F. d['e]fendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. ? to strike, and E. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.] Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. --Spenser. 2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Which God defend that I should wring from him. --Shak. 3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies. The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. --Shak. God defend the right! --Shak. A village near it was defended by the river. --Clarendon. 4. (Law.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. --Burrill. Syn: To Defend, Protect. Usage: To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected by its wall. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it. --Is. xxxi. 5. Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. --Milton.
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