defendant English · revision 10771

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1314|origins=xno defendant}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈfen.dənt/, /dəˈfen.dənt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|xno|defendant]], Old French defendant, the present participle of defendre, to defend (see [[defend]]),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) used as a noun.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a present participle adjective, defending, in the phrase ''him self defendaunt'', in his own defence: about 1314.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The legal noun, a party sued or accused in a court of law, is from about 1400 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) the 14th century in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) A defender against attack (before 1533) and one who defends an opinion (1665) are obsolete senses.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1314 – defending (adjective).^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a party sued in court.^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1533 – a defender (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The person against whom a legal action or charge is brought in a court of [[law]]; compare [[plaintiff]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(archaic)'' Defending.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nondefendant]]

+ * [[codefendant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[respondent]]

+ * [[defend]]

+ * [[defense]]

+ * [[plaintiff]]

+ * [[fend]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}