Part 104

God, the widow's champion and defense.

Shak.

3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification.

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense.

Acts xxii. 1.

4. (Law) The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc.

A man of great defense.

Spenser.

By how much defense is better than no skill.

Shak.

6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.]

Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.

Sir W. Temple.

De*fense", v. t. To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence.]

Better manned and more strongly defensed.

Hales.

De*fense"less, a. Destitute of defense; unprepared to resist attack; unable to oppose; unprotected. -- De*fense"less*ly, adv. -- De*fense"less*ness, n.

De*fens"er (?), n. [Cf. F. défenseur, L. defensor. Cf. Defensor.] Defender. [Obs.] Foxe.

De*fen`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capability of being defended.

De*fen"si*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. défensable, LL. defensabilis, defensibilis. See Defense, and cf. Defendable.] 1. Capable of being defended; as, a defensible city, or a defensible cause.

2. Capable of offering defense. [Obs.] Shak.

De*fen"si*ble*ness (?), n. Capability of being defended; defensibility. Priestley.

De*fen"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. défensif.] 1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor.

A moat defensive to a house.

Shak.

2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.

3. In a state or posture of defense. Milton.