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defend
de·fend / diˈfend/ • v. [tr.] resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger. ∎ speak or write in favor of (an action or person); attempt to justify: he defended his policy. ∎ conduct the case for (the party being accused or sued) in a lawsuit: a lawyer who defends dissidents. ∎ compete to retain (a title or seat) in a contest or election: he successfully defended his Congressional seat [as adj.] (defending) the defending champion. ∎ [intr.] (in sports) protect one's goal rather than attempt to score against one's opponents. DERIVATIVES: de·fend·a·ble adj. |
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Cite this article
"defend." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "defend." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-defend.html "defend." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-defend.html |
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defend
defend guard from attack; †ward off, prevent, prohibit XIII; vindicate (a cause, person) XV. — (O)F. défendre :- L. dēfendere ward off, protect, f. DE- 2 + -fendere (only in comps.).
So defendant XIV. — (O)F. défendant, sb. use of prp. of défendre. defender XIII. — AN. defendour; see -ER 2. defence, U.S. defense XIII. ME. defens and defense, -ence — OF. defens and (also mod.) défense — L. (Rom.) dēfēnsum, dēfēnsa, sb. uses of n. and fem. pp. of dēfendere. defensible †defensive; defendable, justifiable. XV. late L. dēfēnsibilis, f. dēfēns-, pp. stem of dēfendere. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "defend." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "defend." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-defend.html T. F. HOAD. "defend." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-defend.html |
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