WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : De*fend"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [F. d?fendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]
Definition : 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.)

Defn: 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. 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.

t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913