defendant
/dɪˈfɛnd.ənt/ · adj
Meaning
- Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive, defending.
- In civil proceedings, the party responding to the complaint; one who is sued and called upon to make satisfaction for a wrong complained of by another.
- In criminal proceedings, the accused.
Etymology / origin
From Middle English defendaunt (“defending; defending in a suit”), borrowed from Old French defendant, present participle of defendre, from Latin dēfendere.
- dēfendō(la)→
- defendant(fro)→
- defendaunt(enm)→
- defendant (English)
- Relations: inh, der, der
Related words
Sources
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