Defn: The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.
5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc. A man of great defense. Spenser. By how much defense is better than no skill. Shak.
6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.] Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. Sir W. Temple.
DEFENSE
De*fense", v. t.
Defn: To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also
defence.]
Better manned and more strongly defensed. Hales.
DEFENSELESS
De*fense"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of defense; unprepared to resist attack; unable to
oppose; unprotected.
— De*fense"less*ly, adv.
— De*fense"less*ness, n.
DEFENSER
De*fens"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. défenseur, L. defensor. Cf. Defensor.]
Defn: Defender. [Obs.] Foxe.
DEFENSIBILITY
De*fen`si*bil"i*ty, n.