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Defence

//dɪˈfɛns// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury. UK, countable, uncountable

    "In cases of defence ’tis best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems:"

  2. 2
    the act of defending someone or something against attack or injury wordnet
  3. 3
    Something used to oppose attacks. UK, countable, uncountable

    "And nothing ’gainst Time’s scythe can make defence Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence."

  4. 4
    protection from harm wordnet
  5. 5
    An argument in support or justification of something. UK, countable, uncountable

    "Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt, Against thy reasons making no defence."

Show 13 more definitions
  1. 6
    (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies wordnet
  2. 7
    A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence. UK, countable, uncountable

    "But the Danes remained resolute in defence - largely thanks to a spirited display by captain Daniel Agger - and they went ahead with their first meaningful attack."

  3. 8
    a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against them wordnet
  4. 9
    The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence. UK, countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    a structure used to defend against attack wordnet
  6. 11
    Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military. UK, countable, uncountable

    "Department of Defence"

  7. 12
    the justification for some act or belief wordnet
  8. 13
    Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. UK, countable, obsolete, uncountable

    "1673, William Temple, “An Essay upon the Advancement of Trade in Ireland” in Miscellanea, London: Edw[ard] Gellibrand, 1680, p. 116, […] severe defences may be made against weaving any Linnen under a certain breadth, such as may be of better use to the poorest People […]"

  9. 14
    the speech act of answering an attack on your assertions wordnet
  10. 15
    an organization of defenders that provides resistance against attack wordnet
  11. 16
    the defendant and their legal advisors collectively wordnet
  12. 17
    (sports) the team that is trying to prevent the other team from scoring wordnet
  13. 18
    (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To furnish with defences; to fortify. UK, obsolete, transitive

    "Better manned and more strongly defenced."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced Old English bewering.

Etymology 2

From Middle English defencen, defensen, from Old French defenser or its etymon, Latin dēfēnsō.

See also for "defence"

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