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ortion or plot of land, usually smaller than a field; as, a building lot in a city. The defendants leased a house and lot in the city of New York. Kent.

uthority; especially, one who maintains his allegiance to his prince or government, and defends his cause in times of revolt or revolution.

To keep out of sight. The defendant lurks and wanders about in Berks. Blackstone.

deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person on fighting less able either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary. By the ancient law of England he that maimed any man whereby he lost any part of his body, was sentenced to lose the like part. Blackstone.

To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish. God values . . . every one as he maintains his post. Grew.

The lord or officer who defended the marches or borders of a territory.

Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish. The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious. Ex. xxxiv. 6. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Shak.

ces of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency. Examples of justice must be made for terror to some; examples of mercy for comfort to others. Bacon.

To offend slightly. [Colloq.]

To wrong; to do injury to. [Obs.] Who hath you misboden or offended Chaucer.

A covering for the hand, worn to defend it from cold or injury. It differs from a glove in not having a separate sheath for each finger. Chaucer.

extended either in a right line or an arc of a circle before a port which it serves to defend from the violence of the waves, thus protecting ships in a harbor; also, sometimes, the harbor itself. Brande & C.

The act of supporting or defending. [Obs.]

me, as the object of the first person of a reflexive verb, without emphasis; as, I will defend myself.

st, or other erect ornament. hence, any similar position, literal or figurative. Images defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed. Evelun.

ctions of debt. -- Nihil dicit Etym: [L., he says nothing] (Law), a declinature by the defendant to plead or answer. Tomlins.

the public a prosecution; either wholly, or as to some count, or as to some of several defendants.

A plea, by the defendant, in a criminal prosecution, which, without admitting guilt, subjects him to all the consequences of a plea of quilty.

The return of a sheriff on a writ, when the defendant is not found in his county. Bouvier.

mes entered by order of the court, for the plaintiff, notwithstanding a verdict for the defendant. Stephen.