defensible

defensible
/di fen"seuh beuhl/, adj.
1. capable of being defended against assault or injury: The troops were bivouacked in a defensible position.
2. that can be defended in argument; justifiable.
[1250-1300; ME < LL defensibilis, equiv. to L defens(us) (see DEFENSE) + -ibilis -IBLE; r. ME defensable < OF < LL defensabilis, equiv. to defensa(re) (freq. of defendere to DEFEND) + -bilis -BLE]
Syn. 2. suitable, fit, tenable, allowable, warrantable.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Defensible — De*fen si*ble, a. [Cf. F. d[ e]fensable, LL. defensabilis, defensibilis. See {Defense}, and cf. {Defendable}.] 1. Capable of being defended; as, a defensible city, or a defensible cause. [1913 Webster] 2. Capable of offering defense. [Obs.] Shak …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • defensible — I adjective armed, believable, condonable, credible, defendable, exculpatory, excusable, impregnable, invincible, invulnerable, justifiable, justified, maintainable, pardonable, plausible, prepared, sound, supportable, tenable, unassailable,… …   Law dictionary

  • defensible — (ant.) adj. Defendible …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • defensible — late 13c., from O.Fr. defensable, from L.L. defensibilem (c.550), from L. defens , pp. stem of defendere (see DEFEND (Cf. defend)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • defensible — [adj] justifiable condonable, defendable, excusable, fit, logical, pardonable, permissible, plausible, proper, tenable, valid, vindicable, warrantable; concept 528 Ant. indefensible, invalid, unjustifiable, unvindicable …   New thesaurus

  • defensible — ► ADJECTIVE 1) justifiable by argument. 2) able to be defended or protected. DERIVATIVES defensibility noun defensibly adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • defensible — [dē fen′sə bəl, difen′sə bəl] adj. [ME & OFr defensable < L defensabilis < defensare, intens. < defendere: see DEFEND] that can be defended, protected, or justified defensibility n. defensibly adv …   English World dictionary

  • defensible — de|fen|si|ble [dıˈfensıbəl] adj 1.) a defensible opinion, idea, or action seems reasonable, and you can easily support it ≠ ↑indefensible ▪ a morally defensible prison system 2.) a defensible building or area is easy to protect against attack… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • defensible — adjective 1 a defensible opinion or idea seems reasonable and you can easily support it: Richmond s theories are not morally defensible. 2 a defensible building or area is easy to protect against attack defensibly adverb …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • defensible — adjective Date: 14th century capable of being defended < defensible theories > < a defensible hill > • defensibility noun • defensibly adverb …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • defensible — de|fen|si|ble [ dı fensəbl ] adjective 1. ) a defensible belief or idea is one that you can support well against criticism 2. ) a defensible place is one that you can protect against attack ─ opposite INDEFENSIBLE …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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