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Vinony

defense

noun

  1. protection from attack in military operations
  2. protecting of oneself or others from attack, danger, or injury
  3. in law, attempt to avoid criminal or civil liability
  4. policy debate argument that only mitigates the opposing argument
  5. a term in football
L6372 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /dɪˈfɛns/ / /ˈdiːˌfɛns/

noun

Etymology: From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced native Old English bewering. The verb is from the noun.

  1. The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
  2. Anything employed to oppose attack(s).
  3. Anything employed to oppose attack(s).
  4. An argument in support or justification of something.

    “to come to someone's defense”

  5. An argument in support or justification of something.
  6. An argument in support or justification of something.
  7. Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.

    “Department of Defense”

  8. A prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English defencen, defensen, from Old French defenser or its etymon, Latin dēfēnsō.

  1. To furnish with defenses; to defend, protect.

    “In the ſyege of greate cities, takyng a bygge compaſſe rounde abowte, we muſt wyth all laboure: make and intercut not farre of the citie, bꝛode and depe trenches defenſed wyth turrettes of woodde, […]”

    “VVhere being plaſt, vnvviſt of any vvight, / He ſtayde his time, till husband fel on ſleepe, / Then out he gate, defenſt vvith darke of night, / And ſoftly to Salueſtras bed did creepe: […]”