Defensor

Lat. [from defendere, q. v.] In the civil law. A defender; one who defends another in court. A species of advocate, who, without commission, undertook the defence of a reus (defendant or accused person) that was absent.

Calvin.

Lex. Jurid. A municipal magistrate, having certain judicial powers.

Id. Inst. 1. 20. 5. Spelman.

A guardian, (tutor, vel curator.) Calv. Lex. Jurid. In early European law. A protector or guardian.

LL.

Longobard. lib.

1, tit. 30, l. 13. Spelman.

In old English law

The party accused in an appeal; the defender or defendant. Bract. fol.

141 b.

The party warranting another's title in a real action; otherwise called warantus. Id. fol.

257 b.

In the canon law. The protector or advocate of a church, (defensor ecclesiae.) Spelman. See Advocatus. A provincial officer having charge of the patrimony of the church.

Spelman.

An officer having charge of the temporalities of a parish church. Hence churchwarden, (gardianus ecclesiae.) Id.