Part 4243

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<h1>Fence</h1> <Xpage=552>

<hw>Fence</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p. Fenced (<?/); p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Fencing</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To fend off danger from; to give security to; to protect; to guard.</def>

<blockquote>To <b>fence</b> my ear against thy sorceries. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To inclose with a fence or other protection; to secure by an inclosure.</def>

<blockquote>O thou wall! . . . dive in the earth, And <b>fence</b> not Athens. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>A sheepcote <b>fenced</b> about with olive trees. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>To fence the tables</col> <fld>(Scot. Church)</fld>, <cd>to make a solemn address to those who present themselves to commune at the Lord's supper, on the feelings appropriate to the service, in order to hinder, so far as possible, those who are unworthy from approaching the table.</cd> <i>McCheyne.</i></cs>

<h1>Fence</h1> <Xpage=552>

<hw>Fence</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make a defense; to guard one's self of anything, as against an attack; to give protection or security, as by a fence.</def>

<blockquote>Vice is the more stubborn as well as the more dangerous evil, and therefore, in the first place, to be <b>fenced</b> against. <i>Locke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To practice the art of attack and defense with the sword or with the foil, esp. with the smallsword, using the point only.</def>

<blockquote>He will <b>fence</b> with his own shadow. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc.</def>

<blockquote>They <b>fence</b> and push, and, pushing, loudly roar; Their dewlaps and their sides are bat<?/ed in gore. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>As when a billow, blown against, Falls back, the voice with which I <b>fenced</b> A little ceased, but recommenced. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fenceful</h1> <Xpage=552>

<hw>Fence"ful</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Affording defense; defensive.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Congreve.</i>

<h1>Fenceless</h1> <Xpage=552>

<hw>Fence"less</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Without a fence; uninclosed; open; unguarded; defenseless.</def>

<i>Milton.</i>

<h1>Fencer</h1> <Xpage=552>

<hw>Fen"cer</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who fences; one who teaches or practices the art of fencing with sword or foil.</def>

<blockquote>As blunt as the <b>fencer's</b> foils. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fenci-ble</h1> <Xpage=552>

<hw>Fen"ci-ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being defended, or of making or affording defense.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>No fort so <b>fencible</b>, nor walls so strong. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>