ppl. a. [UN-1 8.]
† 1. Not forbidden. Obs.
1399. Gower, Praise of Peace, 223. We … soeffrin every lond To slen ech other as thing undefendid.
1598. Florio, Indiffeso, vndefended, not forbidden.
2. Not defended or guarded; unprotected.
1564. Dorman, Proofe Cert. Articles Relig., 28 b. Why haue they left him so long vndefended, who did no other thing then whereof them selues wer the authors.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Ductor, I. iv. rule 2 § 22. If a sober man shall stand alone unarm’d, undefended, or unprovided, and shall tell that he will make the Sun stand still.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 626. The rest were strugling still with death, and lay The Crows and Ravens rights, an undefended prey.
1795. Burke, Lett. to W. Elliot, Wks. VII. 363. Property, left undefended by principles, became a repository of spoils to tempt cupidity.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, I. 136. There stands a cottage with an open door, Its garden undefended blooms before.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, I. 200. [A] bridge … with a single lofty arch undefended by a parapet.
3. Law. a. Not defended; not assisted by legal defence.
1607. Cowell, Interpr., Informatus non sum, is a formall aunswer or of course made by an atturney,… by the which he is deemed to leaue his client vndefended.
1832. Miss Mitford, Village, V. (1863), 323. The judge … hearing that he was a voluntary witness for the undefended prisoner, proceeded to question him.
1900. Daily News, 4 May, 5/5. The accused is undefended.
b. Against which no defence is raised.
1898. Daily News, 26 July, 8/7. The undefended petition of Major … for a divorce. Ibid. (1899), 4 May, 8/4. Action was brought against him … and was undefended.
