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Depend vs Defence - What's the difference?

depend | defence |

As verbs the difference between depend and defence

is that depend is depends (3rd person singular/plural, present tense) while defence is (obsolete|transitive) to furnish with defences; to fortify.

As a noun defence is

the action of defending, of protecting from attack, danger or injury.

depend

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to something above.
  • * 1851 , Herman Melville, Moby-Dick :
  • The long rows of teeth on the bulwarks glistened in the moonlight; and like the white ivory tusks of some huge elephant, vast curving icicles depended from the bows.
  • * 1982 , Paul Fussell, My War :
  • Besides, if you worked up to be a cadet officer, you got to wear a Sam Browne belt, from which depended a nifty saber.
  • To hang in suspense; to be pending; to be undetermined or undecided; as, a cause depending in court.
  • To rely on for support; to be conditioned or contingent; to be connected with anything, as a cause of existence, or as a necessary condition; — followed by on or upon, formerly by of.
  • (senseid)To trust; to rest with confidence; to rely; to confide; to be certain; — with on or upon; as, we depend on the word or assurance of our friends; we depend on the mail at the usual hour.
  • To serve; to attend; to act as a dependent or retainer.
  • 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 .