defend

[dih-fend] /dɪˈfɛnd/
verb (used with object)
1.
to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from or against):
The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.
2.
to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold:
She defended her claim successfully.
3.
to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).
4.
Law. to serve as attorney for (a defendant):
He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.
5.
to support (an argument, theory, etc.) in the face of criticism; prove the validity of (a dissertation, thesis, or the like) by answering arguments and questions put by a committee of specialists.
6.
to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger.
verb (used without object)
7.
Law. to enter or make a defense.
Origin
1200-50; Middle English defenden < Old French defendre < Latin dēfendere to ward off, equivalent to dē- de- + -fendere to strike
Related forms
defendable, adjective
defender, noun
predefend, verb (used with object)
undefendable, adjective
undefendableness, noun
undefendably, adverb
undefended, adjective
undefending, adjective
well-defended, adjective
Synonyms
1. shelter, screen, shield; garrison, fortify. Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to guard a camp. To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously: to preserve a spirit of conciliation. To protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier: to protect books by means of heavy paper covers. 2. vindicate.
Antonyms
1. attack.
Examples from the web for defend
  • To champion something is to support it, to defend it.
  • They defend plants by warning animals away and protect animals by letting them know when a plant may be poisonous.
  • Students are scrambling to defend their dissertations so that they can graduate on time.
  • The trouble with the new multinational outfit is that its members might have to defend people by firing weapons.
  • They bestride the top of the food chain and are well equipped to defend themselves in nature.
  • Infamous preservative may help defend against bacteria.
  • And the military's job is to do one thing, and that is to defend our country.
  • They are willing to defend policies they may not agree with privately.
  • At first you dismiss your critics as cranks, but as the evidence piles up, you struggle to defend yourself.
  • The best way to defend against resistant bacteria is to have a healthy immune system.
British Dictionary definitions for defend

defend

/dɪˈfɛnd/
verb
1.
to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on
2.
(transitive) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence
3.
to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action
4.
(sport) to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack
5.
(transitive) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge
Derived Forms
defendable, adjective
defender, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere to ward off, from de- + -fendere to strike
Word Origin and History for defend
v.

mid-13c., from Old French defendre (12c.) "defend, resist," and directly from Latin defendere "ward off, protect, guard, allege in defense," from de- "from, away" (see de-) + -fendere "to strike, push," from PIE root *gwhen- "to strike, kill" (see bane). In the Mercian hymns, Latin defendet is glossed by Old English gescildeð. Related: Defended; defending.