Def"e*ca`tor (?), n. That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an apparatus for removing the feculencies of juices and sirups. Knight.
De*fect" (?), n. [L. defectus, fr. deficere, defectum, to desert, fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact, Feat, and cf. Deficit.] 1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; deficiency; -- opposed to superfluity.
Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied.
Davies.
2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment.
Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know,
Make use of every friend -- and every foe.
Pope.
Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects.
Macaulay.
Syn. -- Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.
De*fect", v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.
De*fect", v. t. To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).
De*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.
De*fect"i*ble (?), a. Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding." Jer. Taylor.
De*fec"tion (?), n. [L. defectio: cf. F. défection. See Defect.] Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. "Defection and falling away from God." Sir W. Raleigh.
The general defection of the whole realm.
Sir J. Davies.
De*fec"tion*ist, n. One who advocates or encourages defection.
De*fec"tious (?), a. Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one defectious piece." Sir P. Sidney.
De*fect"ive (?), a. [L. defectivus: cf. F. défectif. See Defect.] 1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.
2. (Gram.) Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb. -- De*fect"ive*ly, adv. -- De*fect"ive*ness, n.
De*fec`tu*os"i*ty (?; 135), n. [Cf. F. défectuosité.] Great imperfection. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
De*fec"tu*ous (?), a. [Cf. F. défectueux.] Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.
Def`e*da"tion (?), n. [L. defoedare, defoedatum, to defile; de- + foedare to foul, foedus foul.] The act of making foul; pollution. [Obs.]
De*fence" (d*fns"), n. & v. t. See Defense.
De*fend" (d*fnd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] [F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. qei`nein to strike, and E. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.] 1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.]
Th' other strove for to defend
The force of Vulcan with his might and main.
Spenser.