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
ANTONYMS FOR defend
1
attack.
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 well-defended
British Dictionary definitions for well-defended (1 of 2)
well-defended
adjective (well defended when postpositive)
having sufficient defences against attack
British Dictionary definitions for well-defended (2 of 2)
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