[de.fend] vb [ME, fr. OF defendre, fr. L defendere, fr. de- + -fendere to strike; akin to OE guth battle, war, Gk theinein to strike] vt (14c) 1 a: to drive danger or attack away from b (1): to maintain or support in the face of argument or hostile criticism (2): to prove (as a doctoral thesis) valid by answering questions in an oral exam c: to attempt to prevent an opponent from scoring at "elects to ~ the south goal"
2. archaic: prevent, forbid
3: to act as attorney for
4: to deny or oppose the right of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or a wrong charged): contest
5: to seek to retain (as a title or position) against a challenge in a contest ~ vi 1: to take action against attack or challenge "couldn't fight back, could only ~"
2: to play or be on defense "playing deep to ~ against a pass"
3: to play against the high bidder in a card game -- de.fend.able adj syn defend, protect, shield, guard, safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack "defend the country". protect implies the use of something (as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure "a hard hat to protect your head". shield suggests protective intervention in imminent danger or actual attack "shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand". guard implies protecting with vigilance and force against expected danger "White House entrances are well guarded". safeguard implies taking precautionary protective measures against merely possible danger "our civil liberties must be safeguarded". syn see in addition maintain