Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives.
--Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
{To be on the defensive}, {To stand on the defensive}, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggression or attack. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
défensive — ● défensive nom féminin Ensemble de mesures permettant d éviter ou de réduire l effet d une agression. Attitude adoptée par le commandement et qui, se limitant à parer les entreprises de l adversaire, lui abandonne provisoirement l initiative des … Encyclopédie Universelle
defensive — Ⅰ. defensive UK US /dɪˈfensɪv/ adjective ► FINANCE, STOCK MARKET an investment that is defensive is very safe, with little or no risk, and its value does not change very much over a period of time: »a defensive share/stock ► trying to protect… … Financial and business terms
Defensive — De*fen sive, a. [Cf. F. d[ e]fensif.] 1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor. [1913 Webster] A moat defensive to a house. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Carried on by resisting attack or… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
defensive — de·fen·sive adj 1: serving to defend or as part of a defense a defensive pleading 2: devoted to resisting or preventing aggressive actions a defensive recapitalization...to escape a takeover attempt Barbara Franklin de·fen·sive·ly adv … Law dictionary
defensive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) used or intended to defend or protect. 2) very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism. ● on the defensive Cf. ↑on the defensive DERIVATIVES defensively adverb defensiveness noun … English terms dictionary
defensive — [dē fen′siv, difen′siv] adj. [ME & OFr defensif < ML defensivus < L defensus: see DEFENSE] 1. defending 2. of or for defense 3. designating or of the side that defends a goal, basket, etc. in a contest 4. Psychol. constantly feeling under… … English World dictionary
Defensive — (v. lat.), die Vertheidigung gegen einen Feind, sofern sie der Offensive, dem Angriff, entgegengesetzt ist … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Defensive — (lat.), die Form kriegerischer Tätigkeit, bei der es, im Gegensatz zur Offensive (s.d.), auf Verteidigung, nicht auf Angriff abgesehen ist. Die D. hat durch die Verbesserung der Waffen außerordentlich an Kraft gewonnen, dennoch wird man aus ihr… … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
defensive — c.1400 (adj. and noun), from Fr. défensif (14c.), from M.L. defensivus, from defens , pp. stem of L. defendere (see DEFEND (Cf. defend)). Of persons, alert to reject criticism, from 1919. Related: Defensively; defensiveness … Etymology dictionary
defensive — [adj] protective, watchful arresting, averting, balking, checking, conservative, coping with, defending, foiling, forestalling, frustrating, guarding, in opposition, interrupting, opposing, preservative, preventive, protecting, resistive,… … New thesaurus
