Defend \De*fend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.]

[F. d['e]fendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. ? to strike, and E. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]

1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.]

Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. --Spenser.

2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

Which God defend that I should wring from him. --Shak. 

3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies.

The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. --Shak.

God defend the right! --Shak.

A village near it was defended by the river. --Clarendon.

4. (Law.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. --Burrill.

Syn: To Defend, Protect.

Usage: To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected by its wall.

As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it. --Is. xxxi. 5.

Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. --Milton.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)