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Defence vs Attorney - What's the difference?

defence | attorney |

As nouns the difference between defence and attorney

is that defence is the action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury while attorney is (us) a lawyer; one who advises or represents others in legal matters as a profession.

As a verb defence

is (obsolete|transitive) to furnish with defences; to fortify.

defence

English

Alternative forms

* defense (US )

Noun

(en noun)
  • The action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.
  • * Shakespeare
    • In cases of defence 'tis best to weigh / The enemy more mighty than he seems.
  • Something used to oppose attack(s).
  • * 1592—1609 , , Sonnet XII:
    • And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence
    Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
  • An argument in support or justification of something.
  • * 1592—1609 , , Sonnet LXXXIX:
    • Speak of my lameness, and I straight will halt,
    Against thy reasons making no defence .
  • A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  • The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offence.
  • Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
    • Department of Defence
  • Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
  • * Sir W. Temple
    • Severe defences against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.

    Synonyms

    * See

    Antonyms

    * offence (Commonwealth), offense (US)

    Derived terms

    * antidefence, antidefense * ecodefence, ecodefense * Nuremberg defence, Nuremberg defense * defensive * defensiveness

    Verb

    (defenc)
  • (obsolete) To furnish with defences; to fortify.
  • * Hales:
    • Better manned and more strongly defenced .

    attorney

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US) A lawyer; one who advises or represents others in legal matters as a profession.
  • An agent or representative authorized to act on someone else's behalf.

    • Usage notes

    * In the "agent" sense, the word is now used to refer to nonlawyers usually only in fixed phrases such as attorney-in-fact or power of attorney.

    Synonyms

    * mouthpiece (slang) * advocate

    Derived terms

    () * attorney general * attorney-in-fact * attorney-at-law * patent attorney * power of attorney (POA) * trade mark attorney