- Latin defensare, defensatum, to defend diligently, intensive
of defendere. See defend. (Wiktionary) “I would rather forgive
pride in a poor body, than in a rich: for in the rich it is
insult and arrogance, proceeding from their high condition; but
in the poor it may be a defensative against dishonesty, and may
shew a natural bravery of mind, perhaps, if properly directed,
and manifested on right occasions, that the frowns of fortune
cannot depress.” “A short defensative about church government,
toleration, and petitions about these things.” “Christian
magistrates, -- is so suited to our present frame and temper,
but so unworthy of them, that I should wrong them by a
defensative.” “Charged they were that they worshipped an ass's
head; which impious folly -- first fastened on the Jews by
Tacitus, Hist., lib.v. cap. 1, in these words, "Effigiem
animalis, quo monstrante errorem sitimque depulerant, penetrali
sacravere" (having before set out a feigned direction received
by a company of asses), which he had borr