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Not defensible; not capable of being defended, maintained, vindicated, or justified; unjustifiable; untenable; as, an indefensible fortress, position, cause, etc. Men find that something can be said in favor of what, on the very proposal, they thought utterly indefensible. Burke.

to quoted matter to explain an obscure word or words; -- as, the plaintiff avers that the defendant said that he (innuendo the plaintiff) was a thief. Wharton.

See under Court. -- Writ of inquiry, a writ issued in certain actions at law, where the defendant has suffered judgment to pass against him by default, in order to ascertain and assess the plaintiff's damages, where they can not readily be ascertained by mere calculation. Burrill.

t, esp. a musical instrument; as, instrumental music, distinguished from vocal music. "He defended the use of instrumental music in public worship." Macaulay. Sweet voices mix'd with instrumental sounds. Dryden.

prohibitory order or decree; a prohibition. These are not fruits forbidden; no interdict Defends the touching of these viands pure. Milton.

A joining of parties as plaintiffs or defendants in a suit.

One who justifies; one who vindicates, supports, defends, or absolves. Justifiers of themselves and hypocrites. Strype. That he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Rom. iii. 26.

To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty. That to the height of this great argument I may assert eternal providence, And justify the ways of God to men. Milton. Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify revolution, it would not ju…

or Palamedea, cornuta), often domesticated by the natives and kept with poultry, which it defends against birds of prey. It has a long, slender, hornlike ornament on its head, and two sharp spurs on each wing. Although its beak, feet, and legs resemble those of gallinaceous birds, it is related in anatomical characters…

as a cable, to preserve its surface from being fretted, or to wind iron chains around, to defend from the friction of a rocky bottom, or from the ice. Totten.

eep, of a gate, etc. ; the keeper of attached property; hence, one who saves from harm; a defender; a preserver. The Lord is thy keeper. Ps. cxxi. 6.

The party against whom a libel has been filed; -- corresponding to defendant in a common law action.

ks with soldiers. Line and new repair our towns of war With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.

An officer appointed to conduct the winding up of a company, to bring and defend actions and suits in its name, and to do all necessary acts on behalf of the company. [Eng.] Mozley & W.

To make the subject of a lawsuit; to contest in law; to prosecute or defend by pleadings, exhibition of evidence, and judicial debate in a court; as, to litigate a cause.

portion 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.

authority; 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.

To 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.