Fence

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /fɛns/

Definitions

1. A barrier made of posts and wire or wood that marks boundaries or keeps animals contained
2. A constructed barrier, often made of wood or metal, that serves to enclose a space, delineate boundaries, and provide protection for both people and animals
3. A structure built from materials like wood or metal to surround or divide land ; an individual who deals in the trade of unlawfully acquired property

Etymology: Fence is a shortened form of "defence." In Middle English, "fence" was a clipped version of "defens," meaning the act of defending, which came into English from Old French "defens" and "defense." Over time the word lost its first syllable, and the protective sense gradually gave way to the physical barrier we know today. The most surprising twist is that the barrier sense came later. In the mid 15th century, "fence" began to mean an enclosure, and soon after, around the same period, people started using it as a verb meaning to enclose something with a fence. By about 1500, the verb had broadened to mean to defend, screen, or protect, so the original idea of defending returned in a new form. A further sense appeared in the 1590s, when "to fence" meant to fight with swords, especially rapiers. Shakespeare uses this sense, and it is the root of the modern sport of fencing, where the idea of defence and swordplay remain closely linked.

Synonyms: barrier, enclosure, partition, hedge, palisade

Antonyms: open, entrance, access