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more about defense
defense |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Defense \De*fense"\, Defence \De*fence"\, n. [F. d['e]fense, OF defense, fem., defens, masc., fr L. defensa (cf. LL defensum), from defendere. See {Defend}, and cf {Fence}.] 1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. In cases of defense 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems --Shak. 2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection. War would arise in defense of the right --Tennyson. God, the widow's champion and defense. --Shak. 3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. --Acts xxii. 1. 4. (Law) The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action 5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc A man of great defense. --Spenser. By how much defense is better than no skill. --Shak. 6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.] Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. --Sir W. Temple. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Defense \De*fense"\, v. t. To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also {defence}.] Better manned and more strongly defensed. --Hales. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: defense n 1: military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; "they died in the defense of Stalingrad"; "they were developed for the defense program" [syn: {defence}, {defensive measure}] 2: protection from harm; "sanitation is the best defense against disease" [syn: {defence}] 3: the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring; "his teams are always good on defense" [syn: {defence}, {defending team}] [ant: {offense}] 4: the justification for some act or belief; "he offered a persuasive defense of the theory" [syn: {defence}, {vindication}] 5: an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires [syn: {defense mechanism}, {defense reaction}, {defence mechanism}, {defence reaction}, {defence}] 6: the federal department responsible for safeguarding national security; created in 1947 [syn: {Department of Defense}, {Defense Department}, {Defense}, {DoD}] 7: the defendant and his legal advisors collectively; "the defense called for a mistrial" [syn: {defence}, {defense team}, {defense lawyers}] [ant: {prosecution}] 8: the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions; "his refutation of the charges was short and persuasive"; "in defense he said the other man started it" [syn: {refutation}, {defence}] 9: an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack; "he joined the defense against invasion" [syn: {defence}] 10: a structure used for defense; "the artillery battered down the defenses" [syn: {defensive structure}, {defence}] 11: a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him "he gave evidence for the defense" [syn: {defence}, {denial}, {demurrer}] [ant: {prosecution}]
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