Defend

Definition of Defend

De`fend´   Pronunciation: dė`fĕnd´
v. t.1.To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel.
[imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.]
Th' other strove for to defend
The force of Vulcan with his might and main.
- Spenser.
2.To prohibit; to forbid.
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.
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.

Related Words

account, advocate, air, allege in support, answer, argue, argue for, arm, armor, avert, back, battle, bless, bulwark, champion, claim, cloak, compass about, conserve, contend, contend for, copyright, counter, cover, cushion, ensure, explain, express, fence, fend, fend off, fight, fight for, flank, guarantee, guard against, harbor, haven, insure, keep, keep from harm, keep safe, maintain, make a plea, make safe, nestle, parry, patent, plead for, police, preserve, prevent, rationalize, rebut, refute, register, reply, resist, respond, ride shotgun for, riposte, safeguard, save, say in defense, secure, shelter, shield, shroud, speak for, speak up for, stand by, stand up for, stick up for, support, sustain, underwrite, uphold, urge reasons for, utter, vent, voice, war, ward, ward off, warrant, watch over, withstand
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Defeasible
Defeat
defeatism
Defeature
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Defecate
Defecation
Defecator
Defect
Defectibility
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Defectionist
Defectious
Defective
Defectuosity
Defectuous
Defedation
Defence
defenceless
-Defend-
Defendable
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Defendee
Defender
Defendress
defenestrate
defenestration
defensative
Defense
Defense in abatement
Defenseless
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Defensible
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Defensive
Defensive proteid
Defensively
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