défendons

Défendons is a French verb form that comes from défendre, meaning to defend. It is the first-person plural form of the present indicative, as in nous défendons (we defend). It can also regulate as the inclusive imperative for the group, used in exhortations such as “Défendons nos droits” (Let us defend our rights).

Etymology and form: Défendre derives from Old French defendre and ultimately from Latin defendere, combining the prefix de- with fend- from fendēre, meaning to strike or defend. The spelling défendons preserves the stem défend- with the standard first-person plural ending -ons, and the accent aigu on the é marks the syllable of the verb’s root in standard French orthography.

Usage: In ordinary speech, défendons expresses a straightforward statement of action (we defend). In rhetoric or political discourse, the form is often used as an exhortation to a group to take collective action, for example in slogans or campaigns: “Défendons nos libertés,” “Défendons l’environnement,” and similar phrases. The meaning depends on context, ranging from literal defense to moral or civic advocacy.

See also: Défendre, the infinitive form; défense or défenseur, related nouns referring to defense or a defender. The verb also appears in various compound tenses and moods, but défendons remains notable for its dual role as both a declarative and an exhortatory form.