Defension

/dɪˈfɛnʃən/ noun

Definition

The act of defending or a defense; the state of being defended (archaic or legal term).

Etymology

From Latin defensio, from defendere 'to ward off.' This is an older English form, largely replaced by the word 'defense' in modern usage, though it persists in specialized legal and historical contexts.

Kelly Says

Defension is like a fossil word—it's the Latin-based ancestor of 'defense,' and you'll find it in medieval legal documents describing the defension of a castle or a person's honor. Language paleontologists love these relics.

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