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defensive

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defensive


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Defensive  \De*fen"sive\,  a.  [Cf.  F.  d['e]fensif.] 
  1.  Serving  to  defend  or  protect;  proper  for  defense;  opposed 
  to  offensive;  as  defensive  armor. 
 
  A  moat  defensive  to  a  house.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  Carried  on  by  resisting  attack  or  aggression;  --  opposed 
  to  offensive;  as  defensive  war. 
 
  3.  In  a  state  or  posture  of  defense.  --Milton. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Defensive  \De*fen"sive\,  n. 
  That  which  defends;  a  safeguard. 
 
  Wars  preventive,  upon  just  fears,  are  true  defensives. 
  --Bacon. 
 
  {To  be  on  the  defensive},  {To  stand  on  the  defensive},  to  be 
  or  stand  in  a  state  or  posture  of  defense  or  resistance, 
  in  opposition  to  aggression  or  attack. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  defensive 
  adj  1:  intended  or  appropriate  for  defending  against  or  deterring 
  aggression  or  attack;  "defensive  weapons";  "a 
  defensive  stance"  [ant:  {offensive}] 
  2:  attempting  to  justify  or  defend  in  speech  or  writing  [syn:  {excusatory}, 
  {justificative},  {justificatory}] 
  3:  serving  as  or  appropriate  for  defending  or  protecting; 
  "defensive  fortifications";  "defensive  dikes  to  protect 
  against  floods" 
  n  :  an  attitude  of  defense;  especially  in  the  phrase  "on  the 
  defensive"  [syn:  {defensive  attitude}] 




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