dēfensor (noun M.f) : m., rar. f.id..
* One who fends, wards, averts, or keeps off: necis,Cic. Mil. 22, 58: periculi,id. Mur. 2.
* A defender, protector.
* In gen. (for syn. cf.: tutor, praeses, vindex, cognitor, curator, patronus, advocatus, causidicus): paterni juris,Cic. de Or. 1, 57, 244; cf. id. Mil. 15: juris et libertatis, id. Rab. perd. 4, 12: octo tribuni plebis, illius adversarii, defensores mei,id. Mil. 15; cf. Hor. S. 2, 5, 30; opp. petitor,Quint. 4, 2, 132: bonus,id. 5, 13, 3 et saep.; opp. accusator,id. 7, 2, 31; 5, 13, 3; Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 38, § 82 et saep.; cf. patronus. Once fem.: mulier defensor alicujus,Dig. 16, 1, 2 fin.: canes defensores,Varr. R. R. 2, 9.
* Esp. in plur., defensores, the garrison: oppidum vacuum ab defensoribus,Caes. B. G. 2, 12; id. ib. 3, 25 et saep.; Sall. J. 23; Liv. 21, 11; Verg. A. 2, 521; Ov. M. 13, 274 et saep.
* Of inanimate subjects, as the guards (sublicae) of a bridge, Caes. B. G. 4, 17 fin.

s. TLL