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To think; to suppose. My sister is not so defenseless left As you imagine. Milton.

The act of surrounding with a bank; a bank or mound raised for defense, a roadway, etc.; an embankment. See Embankment.

Defenseless. [Obs.] The sword awes the indefensive villager. Sir T. Herbert.

nfused; promiscuous. "Blind or indiscriminate forgiveness." I. Taylor. The indiscriminate defense of right and wrong. Junius. -- In`dis*crim"i*nate*ly, adv. Cowper.

justification. Bp. Burnet. The discovery of gunpowder developed the science of attack and defense in a new instrumentality. J. H. Newman.

In a suit to which one has not been made a party, to put forward a defense of one's interest in the subject matter. Abbott.

Any defense or protection.

A coarse and cheap mediæval coat of defense, esp. one made of leather. Their horsemen are with jacks for most part clad. Sir J. Harrington.

A coat of defense made of small plates of metal sewed upon linen or the like; also, this kind of armor taken generally; as, a coat of jazerant.

A joining of causes of action or defense in civil suits or criminal prosecutions.

The Japanese art of self-defense without weapons, now widely used as a system of physical training. It depends for its efficiency largely upon the principle of making use of an opponent's strength and weight to disable or injure him, and by applying pressure so that his opposing movement will throw him out of balance,…

ustified; a showing or proving to be just or conformable to law, justice, right, or duty; defense; vindication; support; as, arguments in justification of the prisoner's conduct; his disobedience admits justification. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue. Shak.…

condition which affords entrance, control, pr possession, etc.; as, the key of a line of defense; the key of a country; the key of a political situation. Hence, that which serves to unlock, open, discover, or solve something unknown or difficult; as, the key to a riddle; the key to a problem. Those who are accustomed…

To thrust out the foot or feet with violence; to strike out with the foot or feet, as in defense or in bad temper; esp., to strike backward, as a horse does, or to have a habit of doing so. Hence, figuratively: To show ugly resistance, opposition, or hostility; to spurn. I should kick, being kicked. Shak.…

A camp, esp. one with an inclosure of travelers' wagons for temporary defense. [South Africa]

the constant action, or effect, of natural conditions; as, death is a law of nature; self-defense is a law of nature. See Law, 4. (b) A term denoting the standard, or system, of morality deducible from a study of the nature and natural relations of human beings independent of supernatural revelation or of municipal and…

he accomplishment of a purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political interests, etc. And let there be 'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. Denham.

To place persons or things along the side of for security or defense; to strengthen by adding; to fortify; as, to line works with soldiers. Line and new repair our towns of war With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.

missiles upen assailants attacking the base of the walls. Also, the construction of such defenses, in general, when of this character. See Illusts. of Battlement and Castle.

The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication. Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor and the maintenance of his service, is granted to God. South.