defensor (defensor)

[L., of appointing curators or guardians for infants having inconsiderable estates. The name has also been applied to one who volunteered to represent in defense an absentee or incapable person. (b) In civil law: (1) A defendant. (2) One who took up the defense, and a umed the liability, of a defendant. (3) An advocate, patron, procurator, or cognitor. (4) A curator or guardian. (c) In canon law, the counsel and custodian of the property of a church. Fidei Defensor. See Defender of the Faith, under defender.