There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.
DEFEND
defend, support, fend for
(verb) argue or speak in defense of; “She supported the motion to strike”
maintain, defend
(verb) state or assert; “He maintained his innocence”
fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend
(verb) fight against or resist strongly; “The senator said he would oppose the bill”; “Don’t fight it!”
defend
(verb) be on the defensive; act against an attack
defend, guard, hold
(verb) protect against a challenge or attack; “Hold that position behind the trees!”; “Hold the bridge against the enemy’s attacks”
champion, defend
(verb) protect or fight for as a champion
defend, represent
(verb) be the defense counsel for someone in a trial; “Ms. Smith will represent the defendant”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
defend (third-person singular simple present defends, present participle defending, simple past and past participle defended)
(transitive) To ward off attacks against; to fight to protect; to guard.
(transitive) To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.
(transitive, legal) To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).
(sports) To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.
(sports) To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition.
(poker slang) To call a raise from the big blind.
(transitive, obsolete) To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).
(transitive, obsolete) To prevent, to keep (from doing something).
(transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To prohibit, forbid.
Synonyms
• See also defend
Antonyms
• attack
Anagrams
• fended
Source: Wiktionary
De*fend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] Etym: [F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]
1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.] Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. Spenser.
2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] Chaucer. Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak.
3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies. The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. Shak. God defend the right! Shak. A village near it was defended by the river. Clarendon.
4. (Law.)
Definition: To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. Burrill.
Syn.
– To Defend, Protect. To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected by its wall. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it. Is. xxxi. 5. Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. Milton.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
27 January 2025
FISSILE
(adjective) capable of being split or cleft or divided in the direction of the grain; “fissile crystals”; “fissile wood”
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