Word Meanings - DEFEND - Book Publishers vocabulary database
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
Additional info about word: DEFEND
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. (more info) Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. Spenser. 2. To prohibit; to forbid. Chaucer. Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak. 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.
Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of DEFEND)
- Befriend
- Assist
- countenance
- support
- advocate
- promote
- protect
- defend
- Exculpate
- Defend
- vindicate
- exonerate
- acquit
- release
- Excuse
- absolve
- pardon
- forgive
- overlook
- condone
- i emit
- indulge
- justify
- mitigate
- extenuate
- exempt
- Hold
- Keep
- grasp
- retain
- restrain
- maintain
- occupy
- possess
- sustain
- regard
- consider
- cohere
- continue
- have
- Justify
- Clear
- excuse
Possible antonyms: (opposite words of DEFEND)
- Oppose
- confront
- discourage
- discountenance
- browbeat
- Miss
- overlook
- disregard
- despise
- dislike
- contemn
- hate
- loathe
- misconsider
- misconceive
- misestimate
- misjudge
- Bind
- constrain
- confine
- shackle
- fetter
- yoke
- Drop
- betray
- surrender
- abandon
- discontinue
- oppose
- weaken
- exhaust
- thwart
- disfavor
- subvert
- suppress
Related words: (words related to DEFEND)
- ACQUIT
Acquitted; set free; rid of. Shak. - DISREGARDFULLY
Negligently; heedlessly. - ASSISTANTLY
In a manner to give aid. - MAINTAIN
by the hand; main hand + F. tenir to hold . See 1. To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; - SUSTAIN
F. soutenir (the French prefix is properly fr. L. subtus below, fr. sub under), L. sustinere; pref. sus- + tenere to hold. See 1. To keep from falling; to bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; a beast sustains - SUPPORTABLE
Capable of being supported, maintained, or endured; endurable. -- Sup*port"a*ble*ness, n. -- Sup*port"a*bly, adv. - EXCUSEMENT
Excuse. Gower. - MISJUDGE
To judge erroneously or unjustly; to err in judgment; to misconstrue. - POSSESSIVE
Of or pertaining to possession; having or indicating possession. Possessive case , the genitive case; the case of nouns and pronouns which expresses ownership, origin, or some possessive relation of one thing to another; as, Homer's admirers; the - PARDON
A release, by a sovereign, or officer having jurisdiction, from the penalties of an offense, being distinguished from amenesty, which is a general obliteration and canceling of a particular line of past offenses. Syn. -- Forgiveness; remission. - CONFINER
One who, or that which, limits or restrains. - CONFRONT
1. To stand facing or in front of; to face; esp. to face hostilely; to oppose with firmness. We four, indeed, confronted were with four In Russian habit. Shak. He spoke and then confronts the bull. Dryden. Hester caught hold of Pearl, and drew - SUPPORTATION
Maintenance; support. Chaucer. Bacon. - CLEARLY
In a clear manner. - RELEASE
To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back. - RESTRAINABLE
Capable of being restrained; controllable. Sir T. Browne. - CONSIDERINGLY
With consideration or deliberation. - ASSISTANCE
1. The act of assisting; help; aid; furtherance; succor; support. Without the assistance of a mortal hand. Shak. 2. An assistant or helper; a body of helpers. Wat Tyler killed by valiant Walworth, the lord mayor of London, and his assistance, - CLEARER
A tool of which the hemp for lines and twines, used by sailmakers, is finished. (more info) 1. One who, or that which, clears. Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding. Addison. - ASSIST
To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of distress; to help; to aid; to succor. Assist me, knight. I am undone! Shak. Syn. -- To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend; sustain; favor. See Help. - UNCONSIDERED
Not considered or attended to; not regarded; inconsiderable; trifling. A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles. Shak.