défendre, v.a., to defend, to protect; to shelter, to shield, to support, to uphold, to vindicate; to forbid, to prohibit. — son ami; to defend one’s friend. On a défendu le port des armes; the carrying of arms is prohibited. La raison nous défend de faire une injustice; reason forbids us to do an injustice. — sa maison à quelqu’un; to forbid any one the house.
défendre, v.n., (jur.) to defend. Il a été condamné faute de —; he was cast for want of being defended; (nav.) to fend off.
se défendre, v.r., to defend one’s self; to excuse one’s self from doing a thing; to clear one’s self; to deny a thing; to keep, to shield one’s self from; to help, to forbear. Cet accusé a voulu se — lui-même; that prisoner wanted to conduct his own defense. Il ne peut se — de tant de reproches; he cannot clear himself from so many imputations. Ne pas s’en —; to acknowledge, admit anything. Je ne m’en défends pas; I admit it, own it.
défens, n.m., (forestry) defense (of forests).
défendures, n.f.pl., hurdles, fences.
défense, n.f., defense, protection; prohibition, interdiction; apology, vindication, justification; warning, notice; task; (nav.) fender; skid; boom. pl., (fort.) outwork, defense; tusk, fang (of boars); tusk (elephants). Se mettre en —; to stand upon one’s defense. Être hors de —; not to be in a condition to defend one’s self. Bois en —; a wood so far grown that cattle may be let into it without danger to the trees. Cordes de —; fenders of junk or old cable. Faire —; to forbid, to prohibit. Preuves alléguées pour la — d’une cause; plea. Donner ses —s; to answer. Arrêt de —; decree to suspend the execution of a former decree. Armé, muni, de —s; tusked, fanged (of boars, elephants). — d’entrer; no admittance except on business. — de fumer; no smoking allowed. — d’uriner; commit no nuisance.
défenseur, n.m., defender, supporter, vindicator, advocate; defender, counsel. Un — nommé d’office; a defender appointed by the court.
défensi-f, -ve, adj., defensive.
défensive, n.f., safeguard, defensive. Se tenir sur la —; to stand upon the defensive.
déféquer, v.a., to defecate.