Verb

(en verb)

(obsolete) To ward off, repel (an attack or attacker).

*1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , II.viii:

*:The vertue is, that neither steele, nor stone / The stroke thereof from entrance may defend .

(obsolete) To prevent, to keep (from doing something).

(transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To prohibit, forbid.

*:

*:Broder said sir launcelot wete ye wel I am ful lothe to departe oute of this realme / but the quene hath defended me soo hyhely / that me semeth she wille neuer be my good lady as she hath ben

To ward off attacks from; to fight to protect; to guard.

To support by words or writing; to vindicate, talk in favour of.

(legal) To make legal defence of; to represent (the accused).

*{{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 14, author=Steven Morris, work=Guardian

, title= Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave , passage=Philip Miles, defending , said: "This was a single instance, there was no allegation of continuing behaviour over a long period of time."}}

(sports) To focus one's energies and talents on preventing opponents from scoring, as opposed to focusing on scoring.

(sports) To attempt to retain a title, or attempt to reach the same stage in a competition as one did in the previous edition of that competition.

(poker slang) To call a raise from the big blind.

Verb

(exonerat)

To relieve (someone or something) of a load; to unburden (a load).

(obsolete, reflexive) Of a body of water, to discharge (oneself), empty oneself.

*, II.ii.3:

I would examine the Caspian Sea, and see where and how it exonerates itself, after it hath taken in Volga, Iaxartes, Oxus, and those great rivers; at the mouth of Obi, or where?

To free from an obligation, responsibility or task.

To free from accusation or blame.