Middle English Dictionary Entry
dēfendǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dēfendǒur n. Also defender. |
| Etymology | OF defendëor |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A defender, protector; (b) one who rules while the monarch is under age, a regent; (c) a tutor; (d) a pleader in court, lawyer, counsel; (e) a protection, shield.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4066 : Wo so an oþer mannes god bi-nime wole mid vnriȝte, Wiþ riȝte he may is owe lese ȝif þe defendour aþ þe miȝte.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)17.21 : Our Lord ys made my defendour [L protector].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.39.18 : Myn helpere and my defendere thou art.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.225 : The peple of Rome..made hem tribunes as deffenders [L defensores] of þe peple aȝenst þe consuls.
- c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)1166 : Þat beo þe steppes of deþ is [Of] deþes pursuwere I-maad þe ȝiuere of blis, Of freodam defendere [L tutor].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)263b/b : Þe ram..is duke and defendour [L tutorem] of oþere scheep.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.15.1 : I am thi defendour [WB(2): defender].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)155 : Fendowre, or defendowre: Defensor, protector.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)549 : It is alloweable..that religiose persoones..haue lordis and ladies into her mainteyners and defenders aȝens wrongers and diffamers.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)429 : Þou hauys Þi full defendoure on fold now frely consayd.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)33b : A Defender: defensor, munitor, patronus, protector, tutor, tutrix.
- a1500 Mirk Fest.Alk.(GoughETop 4)240/31 : Patron yn Englysche ys a defender.
- a1500 Ihesu almygty and (Bod 939)7 : To none odur wul i neuyr calle, But only to the..Aȝenst alle myn enmys to be my defendor.
b
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)77 : The Duke off Gloucestre..beyng Protectour and Defendour off this londe, desireth the Toure off London to be opned vnto hym.
c
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Gal.4.2 : How long tyme þe eyr is a lytyl chyld..vndyr tutours and defenderys [L actoribus] he is vn to þe tyme determyned of þe fadyr.
d
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.4.296 : By this covenant..the entent of the deffendours or advocatz [L defensorum] sholde fayle.
e
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.11.136 : The outreste bark is put ayens the distemperaunce of the hevene as a deffendour.
2.
Law The defendant in a suit.
Associated quotations
- a1325 Rwl.Statutes (Rwl B.520)1:52/38 : At wuche daie, ȝif he ne comez noȝt, ant he be openeliche icleoped enes, tuuies, þries, ant te cleopihinge iwitnessed, passe forth þe iugement for þe plaintif, saue þe riȝt of þe defendur [L difendentis], ȝif he after comez ant wolle þerof speke.
- c1430 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/2)p.89 : And defendere [F defendant] may make attorne to alle manere partyes and plees, by wryt yn presence of partye.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)159/1 : Thys was þe finall concorde I-made in þe kynges cowrt..by-twene Emme, abbas of Godestowe, playnynge..& hugh butuler..defender, of xxx shillings..owyd to hyr.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)591/9 : This fynall accorde is y-made..bitwene Iohn of seyng walerico, axer, and Emme, Abbesse of Godestowe, defender.
- a1486 Ordin.Lists in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)317 : Thou, A. de K., appellour, shall take C. de B., defendour, by the right hande.
- (a1500) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8559 : He schall haffe hys delays..als well ye playntyffe as ye defender in all maner of playnttes als well of dett as of trespas.
3.
A surname.
Associated quotations
- (1222) Feet Fines War.in Dugd.Soc.11312 : Henry le Deffendur.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. defender.