Definition of Defend

1. Verb. Argue or speak in defense of. "She supported the motion to strike"

Exact synonyms: Fend For, Support
Generic synonyms: Argue, Reason
Specialized synonyms: Apologise, Apologize, Excuse, Justify, Rationalise, Rationalize, Stand Up, Stick Up, Uphold
Derivative terms: Defence, Defender, Support, Supporter, Supporter, Supportive

2. Verb. Be on the defensive; act against an attack.
Entails: Contend, Fight, Struggle
Specialized synonyms: Bulwark, Protect, Ward Off, Arrest, Check, Contain, Hold Back, Stop, Turn Back
Generic synonyms: Keep, Prevent
Antonyms: Attack
Derivative terms: Defence, Defensible, Defensive

3. Verb. Protect against a challenge or attack. "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"
Exact synonyms: Guard, Hold
Generic synonyms: Protect
Related verbs: Hold
Derivative terms: Defence, Defender, Defensible, Defensive

4. Verb. Fight against or resist strongly. "Don't fight it!"

5. Verb. Protect or fight for as a champion.
Exact synonyms: Champion
Generic synonyms: Back, Endorse, Indorse, Plump For, Plunk For, Support
Derivative terms: Champion, Champion, Defender, Defensible

6. Verb. Be the defense counsel for someone in a trial. "They want to defend the prisoners "; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant"
Exact synonyms: Represent
Derivative terms: Defence, Defendant, Representation
Antonyms: Prosecute

7. Verb. State or assert. "He maintained his innocence"
Exact synonyms: Maintain
Specialized synonyms: Vindicate
Generic synonyms: Affirm
Derivative terms: Defensible, Defensive

Definition of Defend

1. v. t. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel.

Definition of Defend

1. Verb. (transitive, obsolete) To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker). ¹

2. Verb. (transitive, obsolete) To prevent, to keep (from doing something). ¹

3. Verb. (transitive intransitive obsolete) To prohibit, forbid. ¹

4. Verb. (transitive) To ward off attacks from; to fight to protect; to guard. ¹

5. Verb. (transitive) To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of. ¹

6. Verb. (transitive legal) To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused). ¹

7. Verb. (sports) To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring. ¹

8. Verb. (sports) To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition. ¹

9. Verb. (poker slang) To call a raise from the big blind. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Defend

1. to protect [v -ED, -ING, -S] - See also: protect

Lexicographical Neighbors of Defend

defence force
defence mechanism
defence policy
defence program
defence reaction
defence system
defenced
defenceless
defencelessly
defencelessness
defenceman
defencemen
defences
defencing
defencively
defend (current term)
defendable
defendably
defendant
defendants
defendaunt
defended
defendee
defendees
defender
defenderless
defenders
defending
defending team
defending zone

Literary usage of Defend

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, Henry Dale, Thomas Arnold (1873)
"... but in what way wo snail defend ourselves». against us who bave in >t modo un our minds ; at once, and not For tho aggressors como with their plans ..."

2. South Eastern Reporter by West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, West Publishing Company, South Carolina Supreme Court (1911)
"If a covenantor of title does not appear and defend an action involving the title granted, when requested by his grantee to do so, the latter must defend ..."

3. Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the High Court of Chancery: During by Great Britain Court of Chancery, Edward Thurlow Thurlow, Alexander Wedderburn Rosslyn, Jonathan Cogswell Perkins (1844)
"... abroad, (not required to be on oath) ordered to be put in by a person, having a general power of attorney to defend suits, &c. without signature (a). ..."

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