De-fénd'ant1, n.
n. [Fr. défendant, p. pr. of défendre. See DEFEND.]
Sense 1. One who defends, or makes defense, against evil; defender.
The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. Spottiswood.
Sense 2. (Law.) The party that opposes a complaint, demand, or charge, at law or in equity; one who is summoned into court, and denies or opposes the demand or charge, and maintains his own right. The term is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in court, whether the party denies and defends, or admits the claim, and suffers a default.