2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Defend  \De*fend"\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Defended};  p.  pr  &  vb 
  n.  {Defending}.]  [F.  d['e]fendre,  L.  defendere;  de-  +  fendere 
  (only  in  comp.)  to  strike;  perh.  akin  to  Gr  ?  to  strike,  and 
  E.  dint.  Cf  {Dint},  {Defense},  {Fend}.] 
  1.  To  ward  or  fend  off  to  drive  back  or  away  to  repel.  [A 
  Latinism  &  Obs.] 
 
  Th'  other  strove  for  to  defend  The  force  of  Vulcan 
  with  his  might  and  main.  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  To  prohibit;  to  forbid.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  Which  God  defend  that  I  should  wring  from  him 
  --Shak. 
   
 
  3.  To  repel  danger  or  harm  from  to  protect;  to  secure 
  against;  attack;  to  maintain  against  force  or  argument;  to 
  uphold;  to  guard;  as  to  defend  a  town;  to  defend  a  cause 
  to  defend  character;  to  defend  the  absent;  --  sometimes 
  followed  by  from  or  against;  as  to  defend  one's  self 
  from  or  against,  one's  enemies. 
 
  The  lord  mayor  craves  aid  .  .  .  to  defend  the  city. 
  --Shak. 
 
  God  defend  the  right!  --Shak. 
 
  A  village  near  it  was  defended  by  the  river. 
  --Clarendon. 
 
  4.  (Law.)  To  deny  the  right  of  the  plaintiff  in  regard  to 
  (the  suit,  or  the  wrong  charged);  to  oppose  or  resist,  as 
  a  claim  at  law;  to  contest,  as  a  suit.  --Burrill. 
 
  Syn:  To  {Defend},  {Protect}. 
 
  Usage:  To  defend  is  literally  to  ward  off  to  protect  is  to 
  cover  so  as  to  secure  against  approaching  danger.  We 
  defend  those  who  are  attacked;  we  protect  those  who 
  are  liable  to  injury  or  invasion.  A  fortress  is 
  defended  by  its  guns,  and  protected  by  its  wall. 
 
  As  birds  flying,  so  will  the  Lord  of  hosts 
  defend  Jerusalem;  defending  also  he  will  deliver 
  it  --Is.  xxxi.  5. 
 
  Leave  not  the  faithful  side  That  gave  thee 
  being  still  shades  thee  and  protects.  --Milton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  defend 
  v  1:  argue  in  defense  of  [syn:  {support},  {fend  for}] 
  2:  be  on  the  defensive;  act  against  an  attack  [ant:  {attack}] 
  3:  protect  against  a  challenge  or  attack:  "Hold  that  position 
  behind  the  trees!"  "Hold  the  bridge  against  the  enemy's 
  attacks"  [syn:  {guard},  {hold}] 
  4:  fight  against  or  resist  strongly;  "The  senator  said  he  would 
  oppose  the  bill"  [syn:  {fight},  {oppose},  {fight  back},  {fight 
  down}] 
  5:  protect  or  fight  for  as  a  champion  [syn:  {champion}] 
  6:  be  the  defense  counsel  for  someone  in  a  trial  [syn:  {represent}] 
  [ant:  {prosecute}] 
  7:  state  or  assert;  "He  maintained  his  innocence"  [syn:  {maintain}] 

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