Hypertext Webster Gateway: "defensive"
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) 1.7 (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: {excusatory},
{justificative}, {justificatory}]
3: serving as or appropriate for defending or protecting;
"defensive fortifications"; "defensive dikes to protect
against floods"
n : an attitude of defense; especially in the phrase "on the
defensive" [syn: {defensive attitude}]
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