Nearby Words
adjective
1.
serving to defend; protective: defensive armament.
2.
made or carried on for the purpose of resisting attack: defensive treaty; a defensive attitude.
3.
of or pertaining to defense.
4.
(of stocks, securities, etc.)
a.
able to provide moderately steady growth with minimal risk: The bank has put a large percentage of its assets in defensive rather than growth stocks.
b.
considered stable and relatively safe for investment, especially during a decline in the economy.
5.
excessively concerned with guarding against the real or imagined threat of criticism, injury to one's ego, or exposure of one's shortcomings.
noun
6.
a position or attitude of defense: to be on the defensive about one's mistakes.
7.
Obsolete. something that serves to defend.
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Defensiveness
is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Origin:
1350–1400; < Medieval Latin dēfēnsīvus (see defense, -ive); replacing Middle English defensif < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above
1350–1400; < Medieval Latin dēfēnsīvus (see defense, -ive); replacing Middle English defensif < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above
Related forms
de·fen·sive·ly, adverb
de·fen·sive·ness, noun
non·de·fen·sive, adjective
non·de·fen·sive·ly, adverb
non·de·fen·sive·ness, noun
EXPANDo·ver·de·fen·sive, adjective
o·ver·de·fen·sive·ly, adverb
o·ver·de·fen·sive·ness, noun
sem·i·de·fen·sive, adjective
sem·i·de·fen·sive·ly, adverb
sem·i·de·fen·sive·ness, noun
un·de·fen·sive, adjective
un·de·fen·sive·ly, adverb
un·de·fen·sive·ness, noun
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To defensiveness
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
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