01 v. t. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel.
imp. & p. p.
Defended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defending
-
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.]“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.
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.(Law.)“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.
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.