Chapter 402

In default of , in case of failure or lack of.

Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of the real ones. Arbuthnot.

-- To suffer a default (Law) , to permit an action to be called without appearing to answer.

Default <Xpage=380>

De*fault" , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Defaulted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Defaulting .]

1. To fail in duty; to offend.

That he gainst courtesy so foully did default . Spenser.

2. To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.

3. To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.

Default <Xpage=380>

De*fault" , v. t.

1. To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit; as, to default a dividend .

What they have defaulted towards him as no king. Milton.

2. (Law) To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to appear; to enter a default against.

3. To leave out of account; to omit. [Obs.]

Defaulting unnecessary and partial discourses. Hales.

Defaulter <Xpage=380>

De*fault"er (?) , n.

1. One who makes default; one who fails to appear in court when court when called.

2. One who fails to perform a duty; a delinquent; particularly, one who fails to account for public money intrusted to his care; a peculator; a defalcator.

Defeasance <Xpage=380>

De*fea"sance (?) , n. [OF. defesance , fr. defesant , F. d\'82faisant , p. pr. of defaire , F. d\'82faire , to undo. See Defeat .]

1. A defeat; an overthrow. [Obs.]

After his foes' defeasance . Spenser.

2. A rendering null or void.

3. (Law) A condition, relating to a deed, which being performed, the deed is defeated or rendered void; or a collateral deed, made at the same time with a feoffment, or other conveyance, containing conditions, on the performance of which the estate then created may be defeated.

<page="381"> Page 381

&hand; Mortgages were usually made in this manner in former times, but the modern practice is to include the conveyance and the defeasance in the same deed.

Defeasanced <Xpage=381>

De*fea"sanced (?) , a. (Law) Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.

Defeasible <Xpage=381>

De*fea"si*ble (?) , a. [See Defeasance .] Capable of being annulled or made void; as, a defeasible title . -- De*fea"si*ble*ness , n.

Defeat <Xpage=381>

De*feat" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defeated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating .] [From F. d\'82fait , OF. desfait , p. p. ofe d\'82faire , OF. desfaire , to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat , Fact , and cf. Disfashion .]

1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.]

His unkindness may defeat my life. Shak.

2. To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.

He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes. Tillotson.

The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession. Hallam.

In one instance he defeated his own purpose. A. W. Ward.

3. To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.

4. To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault .

Sharp reasons to defeat the law. Shak.

Syn. -- To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.

Defeat <Xpage=381>

De*feat" , n. [Cf. F. d\'82faite , fr. d\'82faire . See Defeat , v. ]

1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.]

Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak.

2. Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design .

3. An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory .

Defeature <Xpage=381>

De*fea"ture (?; 135) , n. [OF. desfaiture a killing, disguising, prop., an undoing. See Defeat , and cf. Disfeature .]

1. Overthrow; defeat. [Obs.] "Nothing but loss in their defeature ."

Beau. & Fl.

2. Disfigurement; deformity. [Obs.] "Strange defeatures in my face."

Shak.

Defeatured <Xpage=381>

De*fea"tured (?; 135) , p. p. Changed in features; deformed. [R.]

Features when defeatured in the . . . way I have described. De Quincey.

Defecate <Xpage=381>

Def"e*cate (?) , a. [L. defaecatus , p. p. of defaecare to defecate; de- + faex , faecis , dregs, less.] Freed from anything that can pollute, as dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.

Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense. Bates.

Defecate <Xpage=381>

Def"e*cate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defecated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Defecating .]

1. To clear from impurities, as lees, dregs, etc.; to clarify; to purify; to refine.

To defecate the dark and muddy oil of amber. Boyle.

2. To free from extraneous or polluting matter; to clear; to purify, as from that which materializes.

We defecate the notion from materiality. Glanvill.

Defecated from all the impurities of sense. Bp. Warburton.

Defecate <Xpage=381>

Def"e*cate (?) , v. i.

1. To become clear, pure, or free.

Goldsmith.

2. To void excrement.

Defecation <Xpage=381>

Def`e*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. defaecatio : cf. F. d\'82f\'82cation .]

1. The act of separating from impurities, as lees or dregs; purification.

2. (Physiol.) The act or process of voiding excrement.

Defecator <Xpage=381>

Def"e*ca`tor (?) , n. That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an apparatus for removing the feculencies of juices and sirups.

Knight.

Defect <Xpage=381>

De*fect" (?) , n. [L. defectus , fr. deficere , defectum , to desert, fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact , Feat , and cf. Deficit .]

1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; deficiency; -- opposed to superfluity .

Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied. Davies.

2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment.

Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know, Make use of every friend -- any every foe. Pope.

Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects . Macaulay.

Syn. -- Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault .

Defect <Xpage=381>

De*fect" , v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] " Defected honor."

Warner.

<-- 2. Abandon one country or faction, and join another. -->

Defect <Xpage=381>

De*fect" , v. t. To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect ." [R.]

Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).

Defectibility <Xpage=381>

De*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?) , n. Deficiency; imperfection. [R.]

Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.

Defectible <Xpage=381>

De*fect"i*ble (?) , a. Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding."

Jer. Taylor.

Defection <Xpage=381>

De*fec"tion (?) , n. [L. defectio : cf. F. d\'82fection . See Defect .] Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. " Defection and falling away from God."

Sir W. Raleigh.

The general defection of the whole realm. Sir J. Davies.

Defectionist <Xpage=381>

De*fec"tion*ist , n. One who advocates or encourages defection.

Defectious <Xpage=381>

De*fec"tious (?) , a. Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one defectious piece."

Sir P. Sidney.

Defective <Xpage=381>

De*fect"ive (?) , a. [L. defectivus : cf. F. d\'82fectif . See Defect .]

1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.

2. (Gram.) Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb . -- De*fect"ive*ly , adv. -- De*fect"ive*ness , n.

Defectuosity <Xpage=381>

De*fec`tu*os"i*ty (?; 135) , n. [Cf. F. d\'82fectuosit\'82 .] Great imperfection. [Obs.]

W. Montagu.

Defectuous <Xpage=381>

De*fec"tu*ous (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82fectueux .] Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.]

Barrow.

Defedation <Xpage=381>

Def`e*da"tion (?) , n. [L. defoedare , defoedatum , to defile; de- + foedare to foul, foedus foul.] The act of making foul; pollution. [Obs.]

Defence <Xpage=381>

De*fence" (?) , n. & v. t. See Defense .

Defend <Xpage=381>

De*fend" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Defended ; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending .] [F. d\'82fendre , L. defendere ; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. <?/ to strike, and E. dint . Cf. Dint , Defense , Fend .]

1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.]

Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. Spenser.

2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak.

3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent ; -- sometimes followed by from or against ; as, to defend one's self from , or against , one's enemies .

The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. Shak.

God defend the right! Shak.

A village near it was defended by the river. Clarendon.

4. (Law.) To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit.

Burrill.

Syn. -- To Defend , Protect . To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected by its wall.

As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it. Is. xxxi. 5.

Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects . Milton.

Defendable <Xpage=381>

De*fend"a*ble (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82fendable .] Capable of being defended; defensible. [R.]

Defendant <Xpage=381>

De*fend"ant (?) , a. [F. d\'82fendant , p. pr. of d\'82fendre . See Defend .]

1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.]

With men of courage and with means defendant . Shak.

2. Making defense.

Defendant <Xpage=381>

De*fend"ant , n.

1. One who defends; a defender.

The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. Spotswood.

2. (Law) A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff .

Abbott.

&hand; 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.

Defendee <Xpage=381>

De`fen*dee" (?) , n. One who is defended. [R. & Ludicrous]

Defender <Xpage=381>

De*fend"er (?) , n. [Cf. Fender .] One who defends; one who maintains, supports, protects, or vindicates; a champion; an advocate; a vindicator.

Provinces . . . left without their ancient and puissant defenders . Motley.

Defendress <Xpage=381>

De*fend"ress (?) , n. A female defender. [R.]

Defendress of the faith. Stow.

Defensative <Xpage=381>

De*fen"sa*tive (?) , n. [L. defensare , defensatum , to defend diligently, intens. of defendere . See Defend .] That which serves to protect or defend.

Defense, Defence <Xpage=381>

De*fense" , De*fence" (?) , n. [F. d\'82fense , OF. defense , fem., defens , masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence .]

1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger.

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

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

War would arise in defense of the right. Tennyson.

God, the widow's champion and defense . Shak.

3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification.

Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense . Acts xxii. 1.

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.

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

A man of great defense . Spenser.

By how much defense is better than no skill. Shak.

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

Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. Sir W. Temple.

Defense <Xpage=381>

De*fense" , v. t. To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence .]

Better manned and more strongly defensed . Hales.

Defenseless <Xpage=381>

De*fense"less , a. Destitute of defense; unprepared to resist attack; unable to oppose; unprotected. -- De*fense"less*ly , adv. -- De*fense"less*ness , n.

Defenser <Xpage=381>

De*fens"er (?) , n. [Cf. F. d\'82fenseur , L. defensor . Cf. Defensor .] Defender. [Obs.]

Foxe.

Defensibility <Xpage=381>

De*fen`si*bil"i*ty (?) , n. Capability of being defended.

Defensible <Xpage=381>

De*fen"si*ble (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82fensable , LL. defensabilis , defensibilis . See Defense , and cf. Defendable .]

1. Capable of being defended; as, a defensible city, or a defensible cause .

2. Capable of offering defense. [Obs.]

Shak.

Defensibleness <Xpage=381>

De*fen"si*ble*ness (?) , n. Capability of being defended; defensibility.

Priestley.

Defensive <Xpage=381>

De*fen"sive (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82fensif .]

1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive ; as, defensive armor .

A moat defensive to a house. Shak.

2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive ; as, defensive war .

3. In a state or posture of defense.

Milton.

Defensive <Xpage=381>

De*fen"sive , n. That which defends; a safeguard.

Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensive . Bacon.

To be on the defensive , To stand on the defensive , to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggression or attack.

Defensively <Xpage=381>

De*fen"sive*ly , adv. On the defensive.

Defensor <Xpage=381>

De*fen"sor (?) , n. [L. See Defenser .]

1. A defender.

Fabyan.

2. (Law) A defender or an advocate in court; a guardian or protector.

3. (Eccl.) The patron of a church; an officer having charge of the temporal affairs of a church.

Defensory <Xpage=381>

De*fen"so*ry (?) , a. [L. defensorius .] Tending to defend; defensive; as, defensory preparations .

Defer <Xpage=381>

De*fer" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deferred (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring .] [OE. differren , F. diff\'82rer , fr. L. differre to delay, bear different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Differ , Defer to offer.] To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold.

Defer the spoil of the city until night. Shak.

God . . . will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name. Milton.

Defer <Xpage=381>

De*fer" , v. i. To put off; to delay to act; to wait.

Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure. J. A. Symonds.

Defer <Xpage=381>

De*fer" , v. t. [F. d\'82f\'82rer to pay deference, to yield, to bring before a judge, fr. L. deferre to bring down; de- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Defer to delay, Delate .]

1. To render or offer. [Obs.]

Worship deferred to the Virgin. Brevint.

2. To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to .

Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland. Bacon.

Defer <Xpage=381>

De*fer" , v. i. To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to .

The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced. Bancroft.

Deference <Xpage=381>