difendere Italian · revision 39292

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=1219, Breve di Montieri|origins=ine-pro *gʷʰen-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /diˈfɛn.de.re/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''difendere''' (first-person singular present difèndo, first-person singular past historic difési, past participle diféso, auxiliary avére)^(Wiktionary)

+ The older form is [[roa-oit|defendere]], and many dialect forms are recorded in Old Italian texts: Venetian [[m|roa-oit|defender]], Sienese [[m|roa-oit|difendare]], Roman [[m|roa-oit|defennere]] and Messinese [[m|roa-oit|difendiri]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(LEI|19, 681) The participle was once also ''defenso''.^(GDLI|4, 369)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|la|dēfendō|t=to ward off; to protect]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) The Latin verb is a compound of [[m|la|dē-|t=away]] and [[m|la|*fendō|t=to strike]], which is found only in compounds, as in [[m|la|offendō]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Devoto 1968)^(Wiktionary) Its first sense was “to drive back an enemy”, and, from it came “to protect”.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(GDLI|4, 369)

+

+ The verb lives on in [[fr|défendre]], [[oc|defendre]], [[ca|defendre]], [[es|defender]] and [[pt|defender]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(REW 1935) The LEI adds [[rm|defender]] and Logudorese [[m|sc|defèndere]];^(LEI|19, 681) DEI, by contrast, calls the word pan-Romance except in Sardinian and Romanian.^(DEI|1295) It was borrowed into Greek, Welsh and Basque.^(REW 1935)^(DEI|1295) The old sense “to forbid” came from French [[m|fr|défendre]].^(Prati 1951|376)^(GDLI|4, 369)

+

+ Latin [[m|la|*fendō]] goes back to [[ine-pro|*gʷʰen-|t=to strike, kill]], the root of [[grc|θείνω|tr=theínō|t=to strike]] and [[sa|हन्ति|tr=hánti|t=strikes]].^(Wiktionary)^(Devoto 1968)^(DEI|1295)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is the Breve di Montieri of 1219, a Tuscan statute, with the sense “to protect people or things from danger, harm or violence”.^(DELI 1999) GRADIT dates the old form ''defendere'' to the first half of the 13th century.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Old Italian used the verb for armed resistance to an attack, for protecting oneself, for sheltering from weather, for taking someone's side against accusations and, in law and trade, for guaranteeing a possession or a contract.^(TLIO) In the 14th century the legal senses, pleading a client's case and upholding rights, are recorded;^(DELI 1999) Dante (before 1321) has the reflexive “to protect oneself” and Brunetto Latini (before 1294) “to argue one's case”.^(DELI 1999) It also meant “to prevent” and “to forbid”, as in Dante and Ariosto.^(Prati 1951|376)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ The derivatives came partly from Latin: ''difesa'' (1293–1294, Dante) is Late Latin ''defensa'', and ''difensore'' (before 1294, Brunetto Latini) is Latin ''defensor''.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010) ''Difesa'' gained the senses of the legal defence (1518–1525), the military defences (before 1540) and, in sport, the defenders of a team (1927). The phrase ''stare sulla difensiva'', “to be on the defensive”, is from before 1680.^(DELI 1999) In modern colloquial use ''difendersi'' also means “to get by, manage”.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1219 – The Breve di Montieri uses the verb for protecting people and property.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1294 – Brunetto Latini uses ''difendersi'' “to argue one's case” and ''difensore''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1293–1294 – Dante uses ''difesa''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1342 – Domenico Cavalca uses it for taking someone's side and for pleading in court.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1540 – ''Difensivo'' is recorded in Guicciardini.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1680 – ''Stare sulla difensiva'' is recorded in Montecuccoli.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1869 – ''Legittima difesa'', self-defence in law, is recorded by Tommaseo–Bellini.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1927 – ''Difesa'' is used of the defenders in football.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To [[m|en|defend]], [[m|en|protect]] from danger or attack: ''I soldati difesero il ponte per tre giorni.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # To try to keep something against those who would take it: ''La squadra deve difendere il vantaggio fino alla fine.''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # To uphold an idea or person against criticism; to take someone's side or excuse them: ''Mio fratello mi difende sempre.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # To safeguard rights, interests or a reputation.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # To [[m|en|shelter]] from sun, wind or dust: ''Il cappello ti difende dal sole.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(law)'' To act as counsel for someone in court: ''Un avvocato giovane difenderà l'accusato.''.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(sport)'' To play in defence.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To forbid; to prevent.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(reflexive, difendersi)'' To defend oneself, resist, ''(colloquial)'' to get by, manage reasonably well: ''In cucina mi difendo.''^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[difesa]]

+ * [[difensore]]

+ * [[difensivo]]

+ * [[difensiva]]

+ * [[difeso]]

+ * [[difendibile]]

+ * [[difendersi]]

+ * [[difenditore]]

+ * [[difendimento]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[offendere]]

+ * [[la|dēfendō]]

+ * [[fr|défendre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Difendere a spada tratta'' means to defend someone wholeheartedly, to the bitter end.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}