defensible, a.
(dɪˈfɛnsɪb(ə)l)
Forms: α. 3–6 defensable, (5 -abill, -abylle, deffensable, 6 Sc. defensabil, 6–7 defenceable); β. 5– defensible, (5 diffensyble, 5–6 defensyble, 7 defencible).
[Etymologically there are here two distinct words: αdefensable, a. F. défensable (12th c. in Hatzf.):—L. dēfensābil-em (St. Ambrose, c 375), f. dēfensāre to ward off, freq. of dēfendĕre to defend. In the latter part of the 15th c. this began to be displaced by βdefensible, ad. L. dēfensibil-em (Cassiodorus, c 550), f. L. dēfens-, ppl. stem of dēfendere. This expelled the former before 1700. In French also défensible appears in 17–18th c., but both forms are there archaic, the ordinary word being défendable.]
† 1. Affording, or capable of affording, defence; defensive. (Cf. fencible A. 1–3.) a. Of men-at-arms: Fit or able to defend a fortress, etc. Obs.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 549 Hii hulde hom there defensables, to libbe other to deie. 1481 Caxton Godfrey 306 Ther were therin turkes many, hardy and defensable. 1502 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 289 Wyth certayn nombre off defensible parsones. 1549 Compl. Scot. xix. 163 Sa mony of you that ar defensabil men. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, iii. iii. 50 We no longer are defensible. 1636 Prynne Humb. Remonstr. 4 Great Navies of Ships and people defensible. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xix, Every defensible man of you..keep his weapons in readiness. |
† b. Of fortresses, fortified places, etc. Obs. (but often not distinguishable from sense 3).
| 1382 Wyclif Judg. vi. 2 Thei maden to hem..moost defensable placis to withstonden. c 1400 Rom. Rose 4168 A portecolys defensable. c 1489 Caxton Sonnes of Aymon vi. 149 Barbacanes well defensable. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. Turkie i. xvi. 17 This Bourg is not defensible agaynst any great siege. 1627 Speed England, Garnsey §2 A Pale of Rockes..uery defensible vnto the Iland. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. viii. 161 What charges have been bestowed on it since to make it defenceable. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. III. lxiv. 609 He maintained the most useful and defensible posts. 1818 Hallam Mid. Ages (1872) II. 129 Notwithstanding the vast population and defensible strength of Constantinople. |
† c. Of weapons, armour, or habiliments. Obs.
| 1418 Hen. V in Riley Lond. Mem. (1868) 664 In here best and most defensable harneys. 1480 Plumpton Corr. 40 In there most defensible arrey. 1513 Act 5 Hen. VIII, c. 6 Any Armour or defenceable Geer of War. 1548 Hall Chron. 56 The citezens..had provided for al thinges necessary and defensible. |
† d. gen. Defensive, protective. Obs.
| 1545 Primer Hen. VIII (1546) 156 Be thou unto me..a defensible God. 1574 T. Hill Planting 77 Covered with clay, or some other defensable playster. |
† 2. In a state of defence against attack or injury; safe. Obs.
| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 276 b, That such as are buryed in the cowle and weede of a Franciscane Fryer, are forthwith defensible enough agaynst all the Devilles and furies of hell. Ibid. 487 b, Y{supt} her life might have eskaped safe, and defensible from those raging stormes. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §253 We could not leave the work in a more defensible state. |
3. Capable of being defended against attack or injury.
| 1600 E. Blount tr. Conestaggio 207 The rocke with such unexpert soldiers was not defensible. 1704 Addison Italy (1733) 304 Defensible by a very little Army against a numerous Enemy. 1816 Keatinge Trav. (1817) I. 259 His fortress was defensible against all the power of man. 1873 Burton Hist. Scotl. VI. lxxii. 256 Dumbarton was supposed to be more defensible. |
4. fig. Capable of being defended (in argument), maintained, or vindicated; justifiable. (The chief current sense.)
| 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle i. xvii. (1859) 18 My cause..was nought defensable by ought that I couthe se. c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 48 The marriage is defenceable enough. 1674 Owen Holy Spirit (1693) 153 This is scarce defensible. 1769 Junius Lett. xvi. 71 The..resolution..is defensible on general principles of reason. 1863 Fawcett Pol. Econ. iii. vii. 387 A more defensible, or a juster claim. 1875 Whitney Life Lang. ix. 154 In a true and defensible sense. |
Hence deˈfensibleness.
| a 1689 Petty Pol. Arith. (1690) 14 The defensibleness of the Country by reason of its Situation on the Sea. 1830 Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 229 The defensibleness of particular branches of a system. |