DEFEND

defend. Defend, v. to guard, protect, support, vendicate

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De‐fend″ (dē̍‐fĕnd″), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] [[F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. θείνειν to strike, and E. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]] 1. 1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel.
Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. Spenser. 2. 2. To prohibit; to forbid. Chaucer.
Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak. 3. 3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; — sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies.
The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. Shak. God defend the right! Shak. A village near it was defended by the river. Clarendon. 4. 4. (Law.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. Burrill.
Syn. — To Defend, Protect. To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected by its wall. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it. Is. xxxi. 5. Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. Milton.