defend

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Antonyms 1.3.3 Related terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Anagrams

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre (French défendre), from Latin dēfendere, to ward off.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /dɛˈfɛnd/
• (US) IPA: /dɛˈfɛnd/, /diˈfɛnd/, /dəˈfɛnd/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɛnd

[edit] Verb

to defend (third-person singular simple present defends, present participle defending, simple past and past participle defended)

1. (transitive, obsolete) To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).
2. (transitive, obsolete) To prevent, to keep (from doing something).
3. (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To prohibit, forbid.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VII:

     "Brother," seyde Sir Launcelot, "wyte you well I am full loth to departe oute of thys reallme, but the quene hath defended me so hyghly that mesemyth she woll never be my good lady as she hath bene."

4. (transitive) To ward off attacks from; to fight to protect; to guard.
5. (transitive) To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.
6. (transitive, law) To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).
7. (sports) To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.

[edit] Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:defend

[edit] Antonyms

• attack

[edit] Related terms

• defender
• defense, defence
• defensive

[edit] Translations

[edit] Anagrams

• Anagrams of ddeefn
• fended