Defendemus

Z. I In old English law. We will defend A word used in feoffments or gifts, by which the donor or his heirs were bound to defend the donee against any attempt to encumber the thing granted.

Lat. A word used in grants and donations, which binds the donor and his heirs to defend the donee, if any one go about to lay any incumbrance on the thing given other than what is contained in the deed of donation. LBract. 1. 2, c. 16,

Lat. [from defendere, q. v.] (We will defend.) In old conveyancing. An ordinary word anciently used in feoffments or gifts, by which the donor and his heirs were bound to defend the donee against any attempt to lay any incumbrance or servitude on the thing granted, other than what was contained in the deed or donation. Bract. fol. 37 b. Termes de la ley. It was used in connection with warrantizabimus, (Id. ibid.) and the same two words in English are still retained in connexion in the clause with which a warranty deed terminates; — "shall and will warrant and forever defend." Defendemus, however, had not of itself the effect of a warranty. Litt. sect. 733.