Defendant
DEFENDANT, in law, a person against whom proceedings are instituted or directed; one who is called upon to answer in any suit. At one time the term " defendant " had a narrower meaning, that of a person sued in a personal action only, the corresponding term in a real action being " tenant," but the distinction is now practically disregarded, except in a few states of the United States.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
