defend
[ dih-fend ]
/ dɪˈfɛnd /
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
Law.
to enter or make a defense.
Origin of defend
1200–50; Middle English
defenden < Old French
defendre < Latin
dēfendere to ward off, equivalent to
dē-
de- +
-fendere to strike
SYNONYMS FOR defend
synonym study for defend
1.
Defend,
guard,
preserve,
protect all mean to keep safe. To
defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack:
to defend one's country. To
guard is to watch over in order to keep safe:
to guard a camp. To
preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously:
to preserve a spirit of conciliation. To
protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier:
to protect books by means of heavy paper covers.
OTHER WORDS FROM defend
Words nearby defend
Example sentences from the Web for defender
British Dictionary definitions for defender
defend
/ (dɪˈfɛnd) /
verb
to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on
(tr)
to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence
to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action
sport
to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack
(tr)
to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge
Derived forms of defend
defendable, adjective defender, nounWord Origin for defend
C13: from Old French
defendre, from Latin
dēfendere to ward off, from
de- +
-fendere to strike