defendant
See also: défendant
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
From Middle English defendaunt (“defending; defending in a suit”), borrowed from Old French defendant, present participle of defendre, from Latin dēfendere.
Adjective edit
defendant (comparative more defendant, superlative most defendant)
- Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive, defending.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
- Thus comes the English with full power upon us;
And more than carefully it us concerns
To answer royally in our defences.
Therefore the Dukes of Berri and of Bretagne,
Of Brabant and of Orleans, shall make forth,
And you, Prince Dauphin, with all swift dispatch,
To line and new repair our towns of war
With men of courage and with means defendant;
Etymology 2 edit
From Middle English defendaunt (“defendant in a suit; defender”), borrowed from Old French defendant, nominalisation of defendant; see above.
Noun edit
defendant (plural defendants)
- (law) 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.
- (law) In criminal proceedings, the accused.
Usage notes edit
In Canadian law, defendant is generally used only for a party being sued civilly; a person being tried criminally is the accused.
Antonyms edit
- (antonym(s) of "in civil proceedings"): plaintiff, claimant
- (antonym(s) of "in criminal proceedings"): prosecutor
Hypernyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Translations edit
party responding to the complaint
person prosecuted or sued, the accused
|
Latin edit
Verb edit
dēfendant