defend

v. protect, secure

Verb
1. argue or speak in defense of; "She supported the motion to strike"
(synonym) support, fend for
(hypernym) argue, reason
(hyponym) apologize, apologise, excuse, justify, rationalize, rationalise
(derivation) defender, guardian, protector, shielder
2. be on the defensive; act against an attack
(antonym) attack, assail
(hypernym) prevent, keep
(hyponym) bulwark
(entail) fight, struggle
(derivation) defense, defence, defending team
3. protect against a challenge or attack; "Hold that position behind the trees!"; "Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks"
(synonym) guard, hold
(hypernym) protect
(verb-group) hold
(derivation) defender, guardian, protector, shielder
4. fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!"
(synonym) fight, oppose, fight back, fight down
(hypernym) fight, struggle
(hyponym) recalcitrate
5. protect or fight for as a champion
(synonym) champion
(hypernym) back, endorse, indorse, plump for, plunk for, support
(derivation) defender, guardian, protector, shielder
6. be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; "Ms. Smith will represent the defendant"
(synonym) represent
(antonym) prosecute
(derivation) defendant, suspect
7. state or assert; "He maintained his innocence"
(synonym) maintain
(hypernym) affirm
(hyponym) vindicate

v. defend, stand up for, stand for, champion, guard, uphold, assert, buckler, vindicate, forbid, prohibit, bar, forestall

(v. t.)
To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel.
  

(v. t.)
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.
  

(v. t.)
To prohibit; to forbid.
  

(v. t.)
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.
  

This word is used in some old English statutes in the sense it has in French, namely, to forbid. In a 1527 work we find examples of the use of the word in this sense, 'He defended,' (forbade) 'to pay the wage,' (tribute,) 'for he said he was a king.' 'She wrote the obligation when she put her hand to the tree against the defence.' (prohibition of God.)

In pleading, to defend is to deny and the effect of the word 'defends' is that the defendant denies the right of the plaintiff, or the force and wrong charged.

In contracts, to defend is to guaranty; to agree to indemnify. In most conveyances of land the grantor covenants to warrant and defend. It is his duty then, to prevent all persons against whom he defends, from doing any act which would evict him; when there is a mortgage upon the land, the mortgagee demands possession or payment of the covenantee and threatens suit, this is a breach of the covenant to defend, and for quiet enjoyment.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.