transitive verb

1. 1. to guard from attack; keep from harm or danger; protect
   2. to protect (a goal, etc.) against scoring by an opponent
2. to support, maintain, or justify defend one's conduct
3. Law
   1. to oppose (an action)
   2. to plead (one's cause) in defense
   3. to act as lawyer for (an accused)

Etymology: ME defenden < OFr defendre < L defendere, to ward off, repel < de-, away, from + fendere, to strike < IE base *gwhen-, to strike > Gr theinein, to kill, strike, OE guth, combat

intransitive verb