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defended

 - 4 dictionary results

de⋅fend

  [di-fend]
Use defended in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. 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 dēfendere to ward off, equiv. to dē- 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.

Antonyms:
1. attack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defended
de·fend   (dĭ-fěnd')   
v.   de·fend·ed, de·fend·ing, de·fends

v.   tr.

  1. To make or keep safe from danger, attack, or harm.

  2. Sports

    1. To attempt to prevent the opposition from scoring while playing in or near (a goal or area of a field, for example).

    2. To be responsible for guarding (an opposing player).

    3. To compete against a challenger in an attempt to retain (a championship).

    4. To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.

    5. To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim).

  3. To support or maintain, as by argument or action; justify.

  4. Law

    1. To represent (a defendant) in a civil or criminal action.

    2. To attempt to disprove or invalidate (an action or claim).

v.   intr.

  1. To make a defense.

  2. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

defend 
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: de·fend
Function: transitive verb
1 : to drive danger or attack away from defend oneself>
2 : to act as attorney for (a defendant) defend the accused>
3 : to deny or oppose the rights of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or claim) defend the case> intransitive verb 1 : to take action against attack or challenge defend>
2 : to present a defense defend on grounds of insanity —W. Railroad LaFave and A. W. Scott, Junior>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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