defensor

noun

de·​fen·​sor

də̇ˈfen(t)sər,

dēˈ-,

-nˌsȯ(ə)r

plural -s

1

obsolete : defender

2

a

Roman law : one who voluntarily undertook the defense of a case and gave security to satisfy the judgment

b

: an advocate conducting the defense of a case in court

3

[Late Latin, from Latin] : an advocate in the later Roman Empire:

a

: a municipal officer appointed to protect the people from oppression

b

: a layperson or member of the clergy appointed to defend the rights and property of the church

4

[Late Latin, from Latin] : the patron of a church : an officer having charge of the temporal affairs of a church

Word History

Etymology

Middle English defensour, from Latin defensor, from defensus (past participle of defendere to defend) + -or

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