fend and prove

verb

To engage in argument.

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Meanings

verbfend and prove (third-person singular simple present fends and proves, present participle fending and proving, simple past fended and proved, past participle fended and proved or fended and proven)

present singular third person fends and proves · participle present fending and proving · past fended and proved · participle past fended and proved · participle past fended and proven

  1. idiomaticTo engage in argument.

    All Pulpit-fools are enemies to Love, If e'er they think, 't is how to fend and prove.

    1818, John Dunton, The Life and Errors of John Dunton, Citizen of London
    1 more example

    The dexterous management of terms, and being able to fend and prove with them, I know has, and does pass in the world for a great part of learning; but it is learning distinct from knowledge; […]

    1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC
Cite this entry
APA

fend and prove. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fend%20and%20prove

MLA

“fend and prove.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fend%20and%20prove. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fend and prove,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fend%20and%20prove.

Source: fend and prove on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.