DEFENSE

That which is offered and alleged 1by the party proceeded against 1n an action or suit, as a reason in law or fact wh7 the plaintiff should not recover or establisb what he seeks; what is put forward to defeat an action. More properly what 1a 1111,fn, cient when offered for this purpose. In either of these senses 1t may be either a denlal, just1flcat1on, or confe ion and avoidance of the facts averred as a ground of actlon, or an e~cep1;t<1n to their sutnciency 1n point of law•.Whit field v. ID4u~ce Co. (0. C.) 12~ Fed. 2'10; MWe,,T. Mart:fn; 8 N. J. Law, 204; [s. 350]