defensor
noun
de·fen·sor
də̇ˈfen(t)sər,
dēˈ-,
-nˌsȯ(ə)r
plural -s
1
obsolete : defender
2
a
Roman law : one who voluntarily undertook the defense of a case and gave security to satisfy the judgment
b
: an advocate conducting the defense of a case in court
3
[Late Latin, from Latin] : an advocate in the later Roman Empire:
a
: a municipal officer appointed to protect the people from oppression
b
: a layperson or member of the clergy appointed to defend the rights and property of the church
4
[Late Latin, from Latin] : the patron of a church : an officer having charge of the temporal affairs of a church
Word History
Etymology
Middle English defensour, from Latin defensor, from defensus (past participle of defendere to defend) + -or