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The plaintiff or the defendant in a lawsuit, whether an individual, a firm, or corporation; a litigant. The cause of both parties shall come before the judges. Ex. xxii. 9.

One who protects, supports, or countenances; a defender. "Patron of my life and liberty." Shak. "The patron of true holiness." Spenser.

To act as a patron of; to maintain; to defend. [Obs.] Shak.

-- Peremptory mandamus, a final and absolute mandamus. -- Peremptory plea, a plea by a defendant tending to impeach the plaintiff's right of action; a plea in bar.

A person cited to answer, or defend against, a petition.

y suit; also (Scots Law), a suit wherein the plaintiff claims something as due him by the defendant. Burrill.

ersonal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his rights; -- opposed to Ant: defendant.

distinguished from a demurrer; in a still more limited sense, and in modern practice, the defendant's answer to the plaintiff's declaration and demand. That which the plaintiff alleges in his declaration is answered and repelled or justified by the defendant's plea. In chancery practice, a plea is a special answer show…

To discuss, defend, and attempt to maintain by arguments or reasons presented to a tribunal or person having uthority to determine; to argue at the bar; as, to plead a cause before a court or jury. Every man should plead his own matter. Sir T. More.

The act of advocating, defending, or supporting, a cause by arguments.

The mutual pleas and replies of the plaintiff and defendant, or written statements of the parties in support of their claims, proceeding from the declaration of the plaintiff, until issue is joined, and the question made to rest on some single point. Blackstone.

To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect. O Lord, thou preserved man and beast. Ps. xxxvi. 6. Now, good angels preserve the king. Shak.

One who, or that which, preserves, saves, or defends, from destruction, injury, or decay; esp., one who saves the life or character of another. Shak.

To collude, as where an informer colludes with the defendant, and makes a sham prosecution.

A sham dealer; one who colludes with a defendant in a sham prosecution.

nal, from the beginning to the end of the suit; strictly, the means used for bringing the defendant into court to answer to the action; -- a generic term for writs of the class called judicial. Deacon's process Etym: [from H. Deacon, who introduced it] (Chem.), a method of obtaining chlorine gas by passing hydrochloric…

A medicine which preserves or defends against disease; a preventive.

Defending or preserving from disease; preventive. Coxe.

To contend for; to defend; to vindicate. [Obs.] Hammond.

A defender; a vindicator. "Zealous propugners." Gov. of Tongue.