defense

defense
defense c.1300, "forbidding, prohibition," also "action of guarding or protecting," from O.Fr. defense, from L. defensus, pp. of defendere "ward off, protect" (see DEFEND (Cf. defend)). But it also arrived (without the final -e) from O.Fr. defens, from L. defensum "thing protected or forbidden," neut. pp. of defendere. Defens was assimilated into defense, but not before it inspired the alternative spelling defence, via the same tendency that produced HENCE (Cf. hence) (hennis), PENCE (Cf. pence) (penies), DUNCE (Cf. dunce) (Duns). First used 1935 as a euphemism for "national military resources." Defense mechanism in psychology is from 1913.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • defense — de·fense /di fens, dē ˌfens/ n 1: the act or action of defending see also self defense 2 a: the theory or ground that forms the basis for a defendant s opposition to an allegation in a complaint or to a charge in a charging instrument (as an… …   Law dictionary

  • Defense — Défense Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Defense — or defence (see ce/ se) may refer to: Tactics and strategy of defending against attack Defense (military) Defense (sports) Defender (association football) Defenceman (ice hockey) Biological defense (disambiguation) a Chess opening as created in… …   Wikipedia

  • defense — de ne faire quelque chose, Vetatio. Defense, ou menace, Interdictum. Defense qu on fait pour soy, Causae dictio. Defense contre les ennemis, Propugnatio, Tutamentum, Munimentum, Presidium, Defensio. Defense de soy, Tuitio sui. Defense contre… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • defense — DEFENSE. sub. f. Protection, soutien, appui qu on donne à quelqu un contre ses ennemis, à quelque chose contre ceux qui l attaquent. Prendre les armes pour la défense de son Pays, de la Religion. S armer pour la commune défense, pour sa propre… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Defense — De*fense , Defence De*fence , n. [F. d[ e]fense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. LL. defensum), from defendere. See {Defend}, and cf. {Fence}.] 1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • defense — Defense. s. f. Soustien, protection, appuy. Prendre les armes pour la defense de son pays, de la Religion. s armer pour la commune defense. la defense de sa cause. prendre la defense de l innocent. se mettre en defense, pour dire, Se mettre en… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • defense — [dē fens′, difens′; ] also, and for n.6 usually, [dē′fens΄] n. [ME < OFr < LL defensa < fem. of L defensus, pp. of defendere] 1. the act or power of defending, or guarding against attack, harm, or danger 2. the fact or state of being… …   English World dictionary

  • defense — FINANCE LAW the American spelling of defence * * * defense UK US /dɪˈfens/ noun US spelling of ► DEFENCE(Cf. ↑defence) …   Financial and business terms

  • Défense N.B.C. — ● Défense N.B.C. défense contre les effets des armes nucléaires, biologiques et chimiques, appelées autrefois armes spéciales …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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