[Ads-l] "defend [NP]" to mean "defend against [NP]", inverting the meaning

[John M. Baker]

This is a standard use in the legal context. One defends a lawsuit, one does not defend against a lawsuit. For example, Merriam-Webster provides as definitions of “defend,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defend, the meanings “to act as attorney for” and “to deny or oppose the right of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or a wrong charged.” Are there examples outside of the legal context?

John Baker


Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad


On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 6:15 AM, Stanton McCandlish <smccandlish at GMAIL.COM> wrote:

Not the first time I've encountered this, but the first time very recently
outside of informal material (like social-media posts):

'Zelle spokesperson Jane Khodos told PYMNTS in a Dec. 20 statement that the
CFPB’s complaint was legally and factually flawed, that the timing of its
lawsuit appeared to be driven by political factors and that Zelle was
“fully prepared to defend this meritless lawsuit.'

— "Report: CFPB Drops Lawsuit Against Zelle Operator and Owner Banks";
*Pymnts*; 2025-03-04;
https://www.pymnts.com/news/cfpb/2025/report-cfpb-drops-lawsuit-against-zelle-operator-and-owner-banks/

I have not run across the original press release or other statement from
Zelle, so can't be sure that this wasn't simply a word-omission typo by
*Pymnts*, during transcription.

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org