King James Bible Dictionary

An argument made before a court

Of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 26:12-16

Of Peter
Acts 4:8-13; Acts 5:23-29

Of Stephen
Acts 44:7

Of Paul
Acts 44:22; Acts 23:1-6; Acts 24:10-21; Acts 26:1-23

Military defenses
Fort; Armies

DEFENSE, noun

1. Any thing that opposes attack, violence, danger or injury; any thing that secures the person, the rights or the possessions of men; fortification; guard; protection; security. A wall, a parapet, a ditch, or a garrison, is the defense of a city or fortress. The Almighty is the defense of the righteous. Psalms 59:16.

2. Vindication; justification; apology; that which repels or disproves a charge or accusation.

Men, brethren, fathers, hear ye my defense Acts 22:1.

3. In law, the defendants reply to the plaintiffs declaration, demands or charges.

4. Prohibition.

5. Resistance; opposition.

6. The science of defending against enemies; military skill.

7. In fortification, a work that flanks another.

DEFENSE, verb transitive To defend by fortification.

DEFENSED, participle passive Fortified.

DEFENSELESS, adjective Being without defense, or without means of repelling assault or injury; applied to a town, it denotes unfortified or ungarrisoned; open to an enemy; applied to a person, it denotes naked; unarmed; unprotected; unprepared to resist attack; weak; unable to oppose; uncovered; unsheltered.

DEFENSELESSNESS, noun The state of being unguarded or unprotected.