defend

Definitions

1. 1.To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] Chaucer. Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak.
2. 2.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.
3. 3.(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. Burrill. 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.
4. 4.Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. Milton.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "defend" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is defend.

• What is to prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] Chaucer. Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak called?
• What is leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. Milton called?