Defend

[L. Fr. defendre; L. Lat. defendere.] In pleading. To deny. The words " comes and defends,^* {venit et defendit,) have formed a part of a defendant's plea in an action at law from the earhest times, occurring in the forms used in the reign of King JohD. Plac. Ahhrev.

27 Leic. rot. ii. temp.

Johan. cited in Stepk. PI.

Appendix, Note, (79) Am. ed. 1824.

See Come Sf Defence. The effect of the expression " defends" is merely that the defendant denies the right of the plaintiff, or the force or wrong charged. Steph. PI. ch. ii. sect. vii. rule v.