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{ } n. [ F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. LL. defensum), from defendere. See Defend, and cf. Fence. ] 1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. [ 1913 Webster ]

In cases of defense 't is best to weigh
The enemy more mighty than he seems. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection. [ 1913 Webster ]

War would arise in defense of the right. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

God, the widow's champion and defense. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. Acts xxii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Law) The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man of great defense. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

By how much defense is better than no skill. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. same as defenseless; as, a defenceless child.
Syn. -- defenseless, helpless. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Abbrev. from defence. ] 1. That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; a cover; security; shield. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let us be backed with God and with the seas,
Which he hath given for fence impregnable. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An inclosure about a field or other space, or about any object; especially, an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material, intended to prevent intrusion from without or straying from within. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In England a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a structure of boards, palings, or rails, is called a fence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Locks) A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler gates in locking and unlocking. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Self-defense by the use of the sword; the art and practice of fencing and sword play; hence, skill in debate and repartee. See Fencing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric,
That hath so well been taught her dazzing fence. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received. [ Slang ] Mayhew. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fence month (Forest Law), the month in which female deer are fawning, when hunting is prohibited. Bullokar. --
Fence roof, a covering for defense. “They fitted their shields close to one another in manner of a fence roof.” Holland. --
Fence time, the breeding time of fish or game, when they should not be killed. --
Rail fence, a fence made of rails, sometimes supported by posts. --
Ring fence, a fence which encircles a large area, or a whole estate, within one inclosure. --
Worm fence, a zigzag fence composed of rails crossing one another at their ends; -- called also snake fence, or Virginia rail fence. --
To be on the fence, to be undecided or uncommitted in respect to two opposing parties or policies. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fenced p. pr. & vb. n. Fencing ] 1. To fend off danger from; to give security to; to protect; to guard. [ 1913 Webster ]

To fence my ear against thy sorceries. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To inclose with a fence or other protection; to secure by an inclosure. [ 1913 Webster ]

O thou wall! . . . dive in the earth,
And fence not Athens. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A sheepcote fenced about with olive trees. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To fence the tables (Scot. Church), to make a solemn address to those who present themselves to commune at the Lord's supper, on the feelings appropriate to the service, in order to hinder, so far as possible, those who are unworthy from approaching the table. McCheyne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To make a defense; to guard one's self of anything, as against an attack; to give protection or security, as by a fence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Vice is the more stubborn as well as the more dangerous evil, and therefore, in the first place, to be fenced against. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To practice the art of attack and defense with the sword or with the foil, esp. with the smallsword, using the point only. [ 1913 Webster ]

He will fence with his own shadow. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly roar;
Their dewlaps and their sides are bat&unr_;ed in gore. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

As when a billow, blown against,
Falls back, the voice with which I fenced
A little ceased, but recommenced. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Affording defense; defensive. [ Obs. ] Congreve. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a fence; uninclosed; open; unguarded; defenseless. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who fences; one who teaches or practices the art of fencing with sword or foil. [ 1913 Webster ]

As blunt as the fencer's foils. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being defended, or of making or affording defense. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

No fort so fencible, nor walls so strong. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mil.) A soldier enlisted for home service only; -- usually in the pl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The art or practice of attack and defense with the sword, esp. with the smallsword. See Fence, v. i., 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disputing or debating in a manner resembling the art of fencers. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The materials used for building fences. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act of building a fence. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The aggregate of the fences put up for inclosure or protection; as, the fencing of a farm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A tropical leguminous bush (Poinciana pulcherrima, or Cæsalpinia, pulcherrima) with prickly branches, and showy yellow or red flowers; -- so named from its having been sometimes used for hedges in the West Indies. Baird. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Defense in front. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend. ] 1. The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure; as, to cause offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. In any contest, the act or process of attacking as contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as, to go on the offense. [ PJC ]

5. (Sports) The members of a team who have the primary responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the opposing team from scoring goal. [ PJC ]

☞ This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It ought, however, to undergo the same change with expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found in the Latin offensio, and the French offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

To take offense, to feel, or assume to be, injured or affronted; to become angry or hostile. --
Weapons of offense, those which are used in attack, in distinction from those of defense, which are used to repel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. incapable of offending or attacking; harmless.
Syn. -- offenseless. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. See Self-defense. [ 1913 Webster ]