defence Copy link Outline I. That which defendsII. Act or duty of defending1. dēfensio2. prōpugnātio3. tūtēla (very often of deities)4. patrōcĭnium (in court)III. A speech by way of defence1. dēfensio2. excūsātio3. purgātio (a clearing of oneself)IV. State or capacity for resistance (in milit. sense) • defence: I. That which defends: praesĭdium, tūtēla, mūnīmentum, prōpugnācŭlum: v. protection, fortification. II. Act or duty of defending: 1. dēfensio: to prepare all things for the d. of the city, omnia ad d. urbis apparare, Caes.: to undertake any one's d. (in court), alicujus defensionem suscipere, Cic. 2. prōpugnātio: Cic. 3. tūtēla (very often of deities): Cic.: Hor.: v. protection. Less freq. tuĭtio: d. of oneself, sui t., Cic. 4. patrōcĭnium (in court): to undertake the d. of legal and civil disputes, p. legitimarum et civilium controversiarum suscipere, Cic. Phr.: counsel for the d., *rei patronus; qui reo adest: v. counsel: to make a sham d., praevāricari: the conduct of one who makes a sham d., praevārĭcātio: v. collusion. In d. of, pro (with abl.): v. for, behalf of (on). III. A speech by way of defence: 1. dēfensio: he read the d. of Demosthenes, d. Demosthenis legit, Plin. Suet. (More Ciceronian would be oratio pro ... habita.) 2. excūsātio: v. apology. 3. purgātio (a clearing of oneself): Cic.: v. justification. IV. State or capacity for resistance (in milit. sense): Phr.: to put the city in a state of d., urbem ad vim propulsandam parare, omnibus rebus instruere., Kr. (based on Cic.); praesidia urbis curare; dispositis praesidiis urbis moenia firmare.