undefence

[…] thereby preventing, in all human probability, the massacre of hundreds of their fellow-countrymen, in a similar state of undefence.

1914, Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados "Since you insist, there is. There is the wad of the blank cartridge that you fired in the outbuilding." "Oh!" she exclaimed, in the moment of startled undefence, "how do you—how can you—"