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Means of defense; fortification. [Obs.] Spenser.

To prepare for defense; to fortify. [Obs.]

The act of supporting or defending. [Obs.]

Fortification; stronghold. [Obs.] His place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks. Is. xxxiii. 16.

The offense of killing a human being with malice prepense or aforethought, express or implied; intentional and unlawful homicide. "Mordre will out." Chaucer. The killing of their children had, in the account of God, the guilt of murder, as the offering them to idols had the guilt of idolatry. Locke. Slaughter grows mur…

Having the rank, pungent, offencive odor and taste which substances of organic origin acquire during warm, moist weather; foul or sour and fetid; moldy; as, musty corn; musty books. Harvey.

To mix in an unitidy and offensive way; to make a mess of. [Prov. Eng.; Colloq. U.S.]

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

Having no means of defense or protection; open; unarmed; defenseless. Thy power is full naked. Chaucer. Behold my bosom naked to your swords. Addison.

A tall umbelliferous plant (Ferula communis). See Giant fennel, under Fennel.

Offensively filthy; very dirty, foul, or defiled; disgusting; nauseous.

Necessary for supply or relief; requisite. All things needful for defense abound. Dryden. -- Need"ful*ly, adv. -- Need"ful*ness, n.

. This is that ancient doctrine of nemesis who keeps watch in the universe, and lets no offense go unchastised. Emerson.

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.

Offensive to the smell or other senses; disgusting; fetid. "Foul breath is noisome." Shak. -- Noi"some*ly, adv. -- Noi"some*ness, n.

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.