\De*fend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Defended}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Defending}.] [F. d['e]fendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere
(only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. ? to strike, and
E. dint. Cf. {Dint}, {Defense}, {Fend}.]
1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A
   Latinism & Obs.]
         Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan
         with his might and main.              --Spenser.
2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
         Which God defend that I should wring from him.
                                               --Shak.
   
3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure
   against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to
   uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause;
   to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes
   followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self
   from, or against, one's enemies.
         The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city.
                                               --Shak.
         God defend the right!                 --Shak.
         A village near it was defended by the river.
                                               --Clarendon.
4. (Law.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to
   (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as
   a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. --Burrill.
Syn: To {Defend}, {Protect}.
Usage: To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to
       cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We
       defend those who are attacked; we protect those who
       are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is
       defended by its guns, and protected by its wall.
             As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts
             defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver
             it.                               --Is. xxxi. 5.
             Leave not the faithful side That gave thee
             being, still shades thee and protects. --Milton.