Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Defend \De*fend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Defended}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Defending}.] [F. d['e]fendre, 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}.

   Usage: 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.

Source : WordNet®

defending
     adj : attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from
           winning or scoring