defend

[dih-fend]

verb (used with object)

to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from or against): The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.

to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold: She defended her claim successfully.

to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).

Law. to serve as attorney for (a defendant): He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.

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.

to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger.

verb (used without object)

Law. to enter or make a defense.

Origin of defend

1200–50; Middle English defenden < Old French defendre < Latin dēfendere to ward off, equivalent to dē- de- + -fendere to strike

Related formsde·fend·a·ble, adjectivede·fend·er, nounpre·de·fend, verb (used with object)un·de·fend·a·ble, adjectiveun·de·fend·a·ble·ness, nounun·de·fend·a·bly, adverbun·de·fend·ed, adjectiveun·de·fend·ing, adjectivewell-de·fend·ed, adjective

Synonyms for defend

1. shelter, screen, shield; garrison, fortify. 2. vindicate.

Synonym study

1. 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.

Antonyms for defend

1. attack.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for well-defended

Historical Examples of well-defended

This also leads by a lesser drawbridge into the well-defended town.
A Lady's Tour in Corsica, Vol. II (of 2)
Gertrude Forde
In the front of the enclosure, and towards the river, is the well-defended principal entrance, with a large folding gate.
Travels in the Interior of North America, Part I, (Being Chapters I-XV of the London Edition, 1843)
Alexander Philipp Maximilian, Prince of Wied
Finding it impossible to take such a strong and well-defended position by storm, the white colonel withdrew his forces.
The adventures of Kimble Bent
James Cowan
Would that with the fall of that well-defended city the sad detail of "siege and slaughter" closed!
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, And His Man Mark Antony O'Toole
W. H. Maxwell
Doubtless he regretted having left the well-defended brigades of the fur companies to hunt alone in the wilderness.
The Story of the Trapper
A. C. Laut

British Dictionary definitions for well-defended

well-defended

adjective (well defended when postpositive)

having sufficient defences against attack

defend

verb

to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on

(tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence

to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action

sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack

(tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge

Derived Formsdefendable, adjectivedefender, noun

Word Origin for defend

C13: from Old French defendre, from Latin dēfendere to ward off, from de- + -fendere to strike

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for well-defended

defend

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.