PROTECT

verb see: pro- Date: 15th century transitive verb 1. to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction ; guard , defend 1c , to maintain the status or integrity of especially through financial or legal guarantees: as, to save from contingent financial loss, to foster or shield from infringement or restriction , defend 5 , intransitive verb to provide a guard or shield , see: defend ~able adjective ~ive adjective ~ively adverb ~iveness noun