defend English · revision 5000
16 Oct 2026, 01:11 by bogdan “en10k b0183: circuit … gate” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250|origins=la defendere}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /dɪˈfend/^(Roach et al. 2011)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[inh|enm|defenden]], [[bor|fro|defendre]] and directly from [[la|dēfendere|t=to ward off, protect]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from dē- “away” and -fendere “to strike, push”, found only in compounds,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*gʷʰen-|alt=*gwhen-|t=to strike, kill]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the root also of Old English gūþ “battle”^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) and Greek theínein “to kill”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[offend]] and [[fend]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ To shield from attack, guard against injury: about 1250 in Barnhart, the mid-13th century in Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) to ward off an attacker, about 1314 in the OED.^(OED 1989)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ In Middle English it also meant to forbid or prohibit (before 1300) and to prevent or restrain;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) To fight in defence of someone is from about 1300,^(Etymonline) and to defend with words, to vindicate, from the mid-14th century (the 15th century in Hoad).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) ''Defender'' is from about 1300 and ''defendant'', a person defending himself in a lawsuit, from before 1400.^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * c. 1250 – to guard from attack.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * a. 1300 – to forbid.^(OED 1989)
+ * c. 1300 – ''defender''.^(Barnhart 1988)
+ * mid-14th century – to argue in support of.^(Etymonline)
+ * a. 1400 – ''defendant''.^(Barnhart 1988)
+
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Verb===
+ # To protect someone or something from attack or harm.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # To speak or argue in support of someone or something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(law)'' To represent the accused in a [[trial]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)
+ # ''(sport)'' To try to stop the other side from scoring.^(Collins 2023)
+ # To try to keep a title or seat in a competition or [[election]].^(Collins 2023)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[defendable]]
+ * [[defender]]
+ * [[defendant]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[defense]]
+ * [[defence]]
+ * [[defensive]]
+ * [[fend]]
+ * [[fender]]
+ * [[forfend]]
+ * [[offend]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}