safeguard

/ˈsāf-ˌgärd/

Middle English saufgarde, from Anglo-French, from sauf safe + garde guard

noun

  1. pass, safe-conduct

  2. convoy, escort

  3. a precautionary measure, stipulation, or device

verb

  1. to provide a safeguard for

  2. to make safe : protect

defend protect shield guard safeguard mean to keep secure from danger or against attack. defend denotes warding off actual or threatened attack. protect implies the use of something (such as a covering) as a bar to the admission or impact of what may attack or injure.