defendant, suspect
(noun) a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused
Source: WordNet® 3.1
defendant (comparative more defendant, superlative most defendant)
Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive, defending.
defendant (plural defendants)
(legal) In civil proceedings, the party responding to the complaint; one who is sued and called upon to make satisfaction for a wrong complained of by another.
(legal) In criminal proceedings, the accused.
• (in civil proceedings): plaintiff, claimant
• (in criminal proceedings): prosecutor
• litigant
Source: Wiktionary
De*fend"ant, a. Etym: [F. défendant, p. pr. of défendre. See Defend.]
1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.] With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.
2. Making defense.
De*fend"ant, n.
1. One who defends; a defender. The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. Spotswood.
2. (Law)
Definition: A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.
Note: The term is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in court, whether the party denies and defends the claim, or admits it, and suffers a default; also to a party charged with a criminal offense.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
23 June 2025
(noun) members of a family line; “his people have been farmers for generations”; “are your people still alive?”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
