fend vs defend

fend and defend both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
fend	No	No	Yes	No
defend	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, defend is a hypernym of fend; that is, defend is a word with a broader meaning than fend:

Other hypernyms of fend include fight, fight back, fight down, oppose.

fend (verb)	defend (verb)
withstand the force of something	argue or speak in defense of
try to manage without help	state or assert
	be on the defensive; act against an attack
	protect against a challenge or attack
	protect or fight for as a champion
	fight against or resist strongly
	be the defense counsel for someone in a trial