de·fend vt
1: to drive danger or attack away from
using a weapon to defend oneself
2: to act as attorney for (a defendant)
appointed to defend the accused
3: to deny or oppose the rights of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or claim)
intend to defend the case
vi
1: to take action against attack or challenge
not justified in striking first, but may defend
2: to present a defense
may not thereafter defend on grounds of insanity — W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.