Origin: 1200–50; Middle English defenden <
Old French defendre <
Latin dēfendere to ward off, equivalent to
dē- de- +
-fendere to strike
Related formsde·fend·a·ble, adjective
de·fend·er, noun
pre·de·fend, verb (used with object)
un·de·fend·a·ble, adjective
un·de·fend·a·ble·ness, noun
EXPANDun·de·fend·a·b·ly, adverb
un·de·fend·ed, adjective
un·de·fend·ing, adjective
well-de·fend·ed, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
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.