defend

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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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