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3 definitions found

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:

  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.
  
              A moat defensive to a house.          --Shak.
  
     2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed
        to offensive; as, defensive war.
  
     3. In a state or posture of defense. --Milton.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:

  Defensive \De*fen"sive\, n.
     That which defends; a safeguard.
  
           Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives.
                                                    --Bacon.
  
     {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.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  defensive
       adj 1: intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring
              aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a
              defensive stance" [ant: {offensive}]
       2: attempting to justify or defend in speech or writing [syn: {justificative},
           {justificatory}]
       3: serving as or appropriate for defending or protecting;
          "defensive fortifications"; "defensive dikes to protect
          against floods"
       n : an attitude of defensiveness (especially in the phrase `on
           the defensive') [syn: {defensive attitude}]

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