Etymograph

English

defensive

Defensive probably comes from Middle French défensif, morphologically defense + -ive.

  1. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600défensif1uncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1671defensive1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English defensive
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes, […].: “[…]Once join'd, the contrary ſhe proves, a thorn Inteſtin,…”.

Lineage

  1. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600défensifWiktionary, English defensiveuncertain
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1671defensiveWiktionary, English defensive. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 1671, John Milton, Samson Agonistes, […].: “[…]Once join'd, the contrary ſhe proves, a thorn Inteſtin,…”

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Today it means

adj Intended for defence; protective.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “defensive”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Middle French défensif / defensive