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defensa

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word defensa

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 160–220 AD, Tertullian
Ultimate origin
Latin dēfendō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin defendo
French défendre
Italian difendere
Latin defensa
Italian difesa
French défense
From the same root
Latin defensio ← defendo
Latin defenso ← defendo

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [deːˈfẽː.sa][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [deˈfɛn.sa][1]

Forms

dēfēnsa f (genitive dēfēnsae); first declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dēfendō (“to ward off, defend”), a noun made on its participle stem.[2][3][4] Köbler connects it with the frequentative dēfēnsō (“to defend”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Tertullian (c. 160–220 AD) is the first to use it, in Against Marcion (2.18), in the sense “defence”.[2][3][4][5]

Semantic evolution

In Late Latin it meant defence or protection.[1] Medieval Latin used it of fenced or protected land;[6][5] the Constitutions of Melfi (1231) speak of wooded places assigned to the ruler's defensae and to public pastures.[7] Köbler also lists the ban that protected such ground, a castle and a bulwark.[5]

Its descendants include Spanish dehesa, Italian difesa and Portuguese defesa, while French défense and Catalan defensa are borrowings;[1] Wiktionary takes English defense from the French word.[1] Etymonline instead derives the English word, through Old French, from the participle dēfēnsus and its neuter.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it for defence.[2][5]
  • from 643 – Lombard laws use it.[5]
  • 1231 – The Constitutions of Melfi use it of reserved land.[7][5]
  • c. 1300 – English defense, from Old French.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Defence, protection.[2][3][1]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Fenced or reserved land (a wood or pasture closed to others); the ban protecting it.[6][7][5]
  3. (Medieval Latin) A fortification, stronghold.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b c Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Borrowed into

Descendants

Cite this entry

“Defensa.” Etymologically, 23 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/defensa. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·