I.one who fights in defence of a place, a defender, soldier (class.).
I. Lit.: “classis inops propter dimissionem propugnatorum,” of the marines, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 33, § 86: “a propugnatoribus relictus locus,” Caes. B. G. 7, 25: “nudati propugnatoribus muri,” Tac. A. 13, 39; Plin. 8, 7, 7, § 22; Nep. Eum. 3, 3; Amm. 20, 6, 1.—
II. Trop., a defender, maintainer, champion: “paterni juris defensor, et quasi patrimonii propugnator sui,” Cic. de Or. 1, 57, 244: “senatūs,” id. Mil. 7, 16: “fortunarum mearum,” id. Red. in Sen. 15, 37: “sceleris,” Just. 8, 2, 10: “tribuno plebis auctorem se propugnatoremque praestitit,” Suet. Caes. 16.—An epithet of Jupiter, Inscr. Grut. 300, 2.
