---
title: defend — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «defend» in the school dictionary: To defend someone or something is to protect it from attack or harm. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# defend

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** soldiers, porcupine, She, team, He, goalkeeper · **What happens:** defend, be, support, stop, score · **To what, where:** someone, attack, support, sport, other team, castle · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«defend» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [defend in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/defend.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To defend someone or something is to protect it from attack or harm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:m1:1
# text = To defend someone or something is to protect it from attack or harm.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	advcl	_	_
3	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	conj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	protect	protect	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	from	from	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	attack	attack	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	harm	harm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | to-infinitive |  |  | someone |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent someone=Beneficiary |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | attack or harm |  | protect *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To defend is to speak up in support of someone or an idea.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:m2:1
# text = To defend is to speak up in support of someone or an idea.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	csubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	speak	speak	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	up	up	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	support	support	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	nmod	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **be** *speech: other* | present |  |  |  | support of someone or a idea |  | speak *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **support** |  |  | someone |  |  |  |  | nom support «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In sport to defend is to try to stop the other team scoring.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:m3:1
# text = In sport to defend is to try to stop the other team scoring.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	sport	sport	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	defend	defend	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	acl	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	to	to	PART	TO	_	9	mark	_	_
9	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	xcomp	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	_
13	scoring	score	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | sport |  | try *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **stop** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | the other team |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **score** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The soldiers defended the castle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x1:1
# text = The soldiers defended the castle.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	soldiers	soldier	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	defended	defend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	castle	castle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | past | the soldiers | the castle |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent castle=Beneficiary |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A porcupine defends itself with sharp quills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x2:1
# text = A porcupine defends itself with sharp quills.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	porcupine	porcupine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	defends	defend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	3	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	sharp	sharp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	quills	quill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | present | a porcupine | porcupine |  |  |  | with sharp quills | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent itself=Beneficiary |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She defended her friend from the bullies.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x3:1
# text = She defended her friend from the bullies.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	defended	defend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	bullies	bully	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | past | She |  | her friend |  |  | from the bullies | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP PP.theme»: agent=Agent friend=Beneficiary from bully=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our team defended well in the second half.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x4:1
# text = Our team defended well in the second half.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	team	team	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	defended	defend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	well	well	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	3	advmod	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	second	second	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	8	amod	_	_
8	half	half	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing|NumForm=Word|NumType=Frac	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | past | Our team |  |  | the second half |  | well *property* | vn defend-72.3 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He defended his idea in the class debate.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x5:1
# text = He defended his idea in the class debate.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	defended	defend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	idea	idea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	debate	debate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | past | He | his idea |  | the class debate |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent idea=Beneficiary |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goalkeeper defends the goal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x6:1
# text = The goalkeeper defends the goal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	defends	defend	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | present | the goalkeeper | the goal |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent goal=Beneficiary |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mother birds defend their nests.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x7:1
# text = Mother birds defend their nests.
1	Mother	mother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	birds	bird	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	defend	defend	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	nests	nest	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | present | Mother birds | birds's nests |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent nest=Beneficiary |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pinocchio, although alone, defended himself bravely.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:defend:x8:1
# text = Pinocchio, although alone, defended himself bravely.
1	Pinocchio	Pinocchio	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
3	although	although	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
4	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	defended	defend	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	himself	himself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	6	obj	_	_
8	bravely	bravely	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **defend** | past | Pinocchio | Pinocchio |  |  |  | alone, bravely *property* | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent himself=Beneficiary |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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