Part 2855

<h1>Defendee</h1> <Xpage=381>

<hw>De`fen*dee"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who is defended.</def> <mark>[R. & Ludicrous]</mark>

<h1>Defender</h1> <Xpage=381>

<hw>De*fend"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. <er>Fender</er>.]</ety> <def>One who defends; one who maintains, supports, protects, or vindicates; a champion; an advocate; a vindicator.</def>

<blockquote>Provinces . . . left without their ancient and puissant <b>defenders</b>. <i>Motley.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Defendress</h1> <Xpage=381>

<hw>De*fend"ress</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A female defender.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote><b>Defendress</b> of the faith. <i>Stow.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Defensative</h1> <Xpage=381>

<hw>De*fen"sa*tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>defensare</ets>, <ets>defensatum</ets>, to defend diligently, intens. of <ets>defendere</ets>. See <er>Defend</er>.]</ety> <def>That which serves to protect or defend.</def>

<h1>Defense, Defence</h1> <Xpage=381>

<hw><hw>De*fense"</hw>, <hw>De*fence"</hw><hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>d\'82fense</ets>, OF. <ets>defense</ets>, fem., <ets>defens</ets>, masc., fr. L. <ets>defensa</ets> (cf. <er>Fence</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger.</def>

<blockquote>In cases of <b>defense</b> 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection.</def>

<blockquote>War would arise in <b>defense</b> of the right. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>God, the widow's champion and <b>defense</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Protecting plea; vindication; justification.</def>

<blockquote>Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my <b>defense</b>. <i>Acts xxii. 1.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc.</def>

<blockquote>A man of great <b>defense</b>. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>By how much <b>defense</b> is better than no skill. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Severe <b>defenses</b> . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. <i>Sir W. Temple.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Defense</h1> <Xpage=381>

<hw>De*fense"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To furnish with defenses; to fortify.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> <altsp>[Written also <asp>defence</asp>.]</altsp>

<blockquote>Better manned and more strongly <b>defensed</b>. <i>Hales.</i></blockquote>