DEFENSE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Defense

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/dɪfˈɛns/ Listen

noun

Defence, Defense n.

1.

The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. "In cases of defense 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems."

2.

That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection. "War would arise in defense of the right." "God, the widow's champion and defense."

3.

Protecting plea; vindication; justification. "Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense."

4.

(Law) The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

5.

Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc. "A man of great defense." "By how much defense is better than no skill."

6.

Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. (Obs.) "Severe defenses... against wearing any linen under a certain breadth."

verb

Defense v. t. (Written also defence) To furnish with defenses; to fortify. (Obs.) "Better manned and more strongly defensed."

See images of 'Defense'

Etymology of 'Defense'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Defense" Quotes from Famous Books

... towers are protected with 153/4 in. steel armor with a hood of 21/2 in. to protect the men against machine gun fire. As a further means of insuring the life of the ship in combat and also against accidents at sea, the Marceau is divided into 102 water-tight compartments and is fitted with torpedo defense netting. There are two masts, each carrying double military tops; and a conning tower is mounted on each mast, from either of which the ship may be worked in time of action, and both of which are in telegraphic communication with the engine rooms and magazines. ...

— Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, Sep. 26, 1891 • Various

... the night of the third of January in a bay one-half hour's distance from Masingloc, and went overland to that village. At dawn of the fourth, they surprised the insurgents so completely, that overtaken by fear, the latter could not put themselves in a state of defense, while they even had no opportunity for flight. They were all seized, and the prior, although he was full of grief at the robbery of the sacristy and church, interceded for the prisoners, and succeeded in having all except three set at liberty. Those three were ...

— The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - Volume 41 of 55, 1691-1700 • Various

... view the active adenin obtained was not a contamination but an inactive isomer of the active substance. The hydroxy-betaines which Williams prepared in defense of his theory have been repeatedly tested but have in general failed to confirm his view which stands today as an interesting suggestion but without confirmatory evidence. Other attempts by these authors ...

— The Vitamine Manual • Walter H. Eddy

... the defense! Yet the rosebud face of Anne Leffingwell expressed concern and doubt rather than gratification. There is such a thing ...

— From a Bench in Our Square • Samuel Hopkins Adams

... blood and beauty. The tendency of theft was to destroy all moral and social good. For were it once to prevail so far as to make property insecure, industry would lose heart, enterprise and frugality be crushed, and at last the honest turn thieves in self-defense. Nearly every act of theft had a baneful influence on ...

— It Is Never Too Late to Mend • Charles Reade

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