defensiveness

Variant of defensive

defensive definition

de·fen·sive (dē fen′siv, di-)

adjective

  1. defending
  2. of or for defense
  3. designating or of the side that defends a goal, basket, etc. in a contest
  4. Psychol. constantly feeling under attack and hence quick to justify one's actions

Etymology: ME & OFr defensif < ML defensivus < L defensus: see defense

noun

  1. Obsolete something that defends
  2. a position of defense: chiefly in the phrase on the defensive, in a condition of resisting or being ready to resist attack or danger

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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