defended

Adjective

defended (comparative more defended, superlative most defended)

1. Having defenses.
   • For example, in the boreal forest where browsing by hares in winter is an important source of mortality, the juvenile-phase is more defended chemically against browsing by hares in winter than is the conspecific mature-phase (Table 2).1991, R. Thomas Palo, Charles T. Robbins, Plant Defenses Against Mammalian Herbivory, page 89
   • This result corroborates the Hypothesis 2 that the less defended fast-growing species can be replaced over time by more defended slower-growing species.2018, Zhilan Feng, Donald DeAngelis, Mathematical Models of Plant-Herbivore Interactions, page 68
2. (not comparable) In which the defendant responds to the allegations made against them, typically by filing a defense or counterclaim in court.
   • If this simpler procedure were adopted in a defended case the cost would be about 29l. if counsel were employed, and about 27l. if no counsel or solicitor were employed.1910 March 29, “Royal Commission on Divorce and Matrimonial Causes”, in Reports from Commissioners, Inspectors, and Others, volume 18, page 476
   • But only in less than 5% there was a court order in a defended case (Müller-Alten, 1984).1993, Jeremy McBride, Claude Samson, Alternative dispute resolution, page 554