Part 102

De*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.

De*fect"i*ble (?), a. Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding." Jer. Taylor.

De*fec"tion (?), n. [L. defectio: cf. F. défection. See Defect.] Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. "Defection and falling away from God." Sir W. Raleigh.

The general defection of the whole realm.

Sir J. Davies.

De*fec"tion*ist, n. One who advocates or encourages defection.

De*fec"tious (?), a. Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one defectious piece." Sir P. Sidney.

De*fect"ive (?), a. [L. defectivus: cf. F. défectif. See Defect.] 1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.

2. (Gram.) Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb. -- De*fect"ive*ly, adv. -- De*fect"ive*ness, n.

De*fec`tu*os"i*ty (?; 135), n. [Cf. F. défectuosité.] Great imperfection. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

De*fec"tu*ous (?), a. [Cf. F. défectueux.] Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.

Def`e*da"tion (?), n. [L. defoedare, defoedatum, to defile; de- + foedare to foul, foedus foul.] The act of making foul; pollution. [Obs.]

De*fence" (d*fns"), n. & v. t. See Defense.

De*fend" (d*fnd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] [F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. qei`nein to strike, and E. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.] 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.) 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.