defend什么意思

defend什么意思

defend

Pronunciation: \di-fend\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- + -fendere to strike; akin to Old English gūth battle, war, Greek theinein to strike
Date: 14th century

transitive verb :

1 a : to drive danger or attack away from b (1) : to maintain or support in the face of argument or hostile criticism (2) : to prove (as a doctoral thesis) valid by answering questions in an oral exam c : to attempt to prevent an opponent from scoring at

2 archaic : prevent, forbid

3 : to act as attorney for

4 : to deny or oppose the right of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or a wrong charged) : contest

5 : to retain or seek to retain (as a title or position) against a challenge in a contest

intransitive verb

1 : to take action against attack or challenge
2 : to play or be on defense
3 : to play against the high bidder in a card game