Defensive; proper for defense.

Making defense; being in the character of a defendant.

He that defends against an assailant, or against the approach of evil or danger.

In law, the party that opposes a complaint, demand or charge; he that is summoned into court, and defends, denies or opposes the demand or charge, and maintains his own right. It is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in court, whether the party denies and defends, or admits the claim and suffers a default.