English
defensive
Defensive probably comes from Middle French défensif, morphologically defense + -ive.
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600défensifuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1671defensive
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600défensifuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1671defensive
Earliest quotation: 1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes, […].: “[…]Once join'd, the contrary ſhe proves, a thorn Inteſtin,…”
Formed from defense + -ive
Latin dēfendō ‘to defend’
Late Latin dēfēnsa ‘protection’
Old French defens
Middle English defens
English defense
Every English word from Middle French défensif
Today it means
adj Intended for defence; protective.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle French défensif / defensive