defense English · revision 1868

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la dēfendere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈfɛns/; /ˈdiːˌfɛns/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|defense]], [[m|enm|defens]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) a merger of two Old French words:^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|defense|t=defence, prohibition]], from [[la-lat|dēfēnsa|t=defence; vengeance]], a noun use of the feminine past participle of [[la|dēfendere|t=to ward off, protect]] (see [[defend]]);^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(MW Collegiate) and [[m|fro|defens]], from [[la-med|dēfēnsum|t=thing protected or forbidden]], its neuter past participle.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Merriam-Webster Unabridged traces the first to an assumed [[la-vul|*dēfēnsa]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The act of guarding or shielding from attack; a fortified place (probably before 1300 in Barnhart, in ''Kyng Alisaunder''; c. 1300 in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English ''defens'' and ''defense'' merged.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The spelling ''defence'' arose by the same tendency that produced ''hence'' and ''pence'';^(Etymonline) Noah Webster made ''defense'' the American standard, while British English prefers ''defence''.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary) By the late 14th century the word was used of a speech or writing answering an accusation and of a defendant's answer in a lawsuit.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) The science of self-defence in fencing or boxing is recorded from about 1600.^(Etymonline) By 1935 ''defense'' was used as a euphemism for a nation's military resources,^(Etymonline) though Middle English already had ''man of defense'', a warrior, and ''ship of defense'', a warship.^(Etymonline) In sports it means the players trying to stop the other side from scoring,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) in which sense Americans often stress the first syllable, in contrast to ''offense''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary) The animal's natural weapons were called its defenses by 1889, and ''defense mechanism'' in psychology dates from 1913.^(Etymonline) A verb ''defense'', to take defensive action against an opposing team, dates from 1950 in Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – defending against attack; a fortified place.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * late 14th century – a speech or plea answering a charge.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1600 – the art of self-defence.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – an animal's natural weapons.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – ''defense mechanism''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1935 – national military resources.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1950 – as a verb in sports.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of [[defend|alt=defending]] against attack, danger or injury.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A means or method of defending; a [[fortification|alt=defensive structure]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An argument in support or [[justification]] of something.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(law)'' A [[defendant]]'s answer to a charge or claim; the defendant and their legal counsel.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Black's Law 2004)

+ # The art of defending oneself; [[self-defense]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(sports)'' The team or players trying to stop the opponents from scoring; defensive play.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The military forces and industries of a nation, and the policy concerning them.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(sports)'' To try to stop an opposing team or player from scoring.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[defenseless]]

+ * [[defenselessly]]

+ * [[defenselessness]]

+ * [[defensible]]

+ * [[defensive]]

+ * [[nondefense]]

+ * [[self-defense]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[defence]]

+ * [[defend]]

+ * [[defendant]]

+ * [[fence]]

+ * [[offense]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Defense'' is the American spelling and ''defence'' the British.^(Etymonline)^(Wiktionary)^(Collins 2023) In sports use, American speakers often pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable, as the opposite of ''offense''.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}