Defended

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Defend \De*fend"\ (d[-e]*f[e^]nd"), 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. qei`nein 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.]
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              Th' other strove for to defend
              The force of Vulcan with his might and main.
                                                    --Spenser.
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     2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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              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.
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              The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city.
                                                    --Shak.
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              God defend the right!                 --Shak.
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              A village near it was defended by the river.
                                                    --Clarendon.
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     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.
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                  As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts
                  defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver
                  it.                               --Is. xxxi. 5.
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                  Leave not the faithful side
                  That gave thee being, still shades thee and
                  protects.                         --Milton.
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