de|fend

de|fend
de|fend «dih FEHND», transitive verb.
1. to keep safe; guard from attack or harm; protect: »

As the wolves closed in the dog stood rigid, ready to defend his master. In sports, the defense is in charge of defending the goal.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under guard. (Cf.guard)
2. to act, speak, or write in favor of: »

The newspapers defended the governor's action. A district attorney defends the rights and privileges of the citizens.

SYNONYM(S): uphold, maintain.
3. Law. a) to fight or contest (a claim or lawsuit). b) to act or speak on behalf of (a person accused): »

The lawyer defended the man charged with theft before a judge. A State Supreme Court order…demands that public funds be used to defend indigents (New York Times).

4. Obsolete. to prohibit; forbid: »

No interdict Defends the touching of these viands pure (Milton).

–v.i.
to make or enter a defense.
[< Old French defendre < Latin dēfendere ward off < dē- from, away + fendere to strike, push]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • fend — [fend] v [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: defend] fend for yourself to look after yourself without needing help from other people ▪ The kids had to fend for themselves while their parents were away. fend off [fend sb/sth off] phr v 1.) to defend… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • fend for yourself — phrase to look after yourself without help from anyone else The kittens have been fending for themselves since they were six weeks old. Thesaurus: to do something without helpsynonym Main entry: fend * * * fend for yourself : to do things without …   Useful english dictionary

  • Fend — Fend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Fending}.] [Abbrev. fr. defend.] To keep off; to prevent from entering or hitting; to ward off; to shut out; often with off; as, to fend off blows. [1913 Webster] With fern beneath to fend the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fend — ist der Familienname von Fritz Fend (1920–2000), deutscher Automobilkonstrukteur Helmut Fend (* 1940), österreichischer Pädagogikprofessor Werner Fend (1926–1997), österreichischer Lehrer, Jäger, Fotograf, Tierfilmer und Autor …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • fend — /fend/, v.t. 1. to ward off (often fol. by off): to fend off blows. 2. to defend. v.i. 3. to resist or make defense: to fend against poverty. 4. to parry; fence. 5. to shift; provide: to fend for oneself. [1250 1300; ME fenden, aph. var. of… …   Universalium

  • fend — UK US /fend/ verb ● fend for yourself Cf. fend for yourself …   Financial and business terms

  • fend — [ fend ] verb fend for yourself to look after yourself without help from anyone else ,fend off phrasal verb transitive to defend yourself against an attack a. to protect yourself from a criticism or difficulty by ignoring it or not dealing… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • fend — [fend] vt. [ME fenden, aphetic for defenden, DEFEND] Archaic to defend vi. to resist; parry fend for oneself to manage by oneself; get along without help fend off to ward off …   English World dictionary

  • Fend — Fend, v. i. To act on the defensive, or in opposition; to resist; to parry; to shift off. [1913 Webster] The dexterous management of terms, and being able to fend . . . with them, passes for a great part of learning. Locke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fend for yourself — ► to take care of and provide for yourself without depending on anyone else: »The corporation will no longer receive a government subsidy, and must fend for itself financially. Main Entry: ↑fend …   Financial and business terms

  • fend — [fend] verb fend for yourself fend sb off …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

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