The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Protect \Pro*tect"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Protected; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Protecting.] [L. protectus, p. p. of protegere,
   literally, to cover in front; pro before + tegere to cover.
   See Tegument.]
   To cover or shield from danger or injury; to defend; to
   guard; to preserve in safety; as, a father protects his
   children.
   [1913 Webster]

         The gods of Greece protect you!          --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

   Syn: To guard; shield; preserve. See Defend.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

protect
    v 1: shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage;
         "Weatherbeater protects your roof from the rain"
    2: use tariffs to favor domestic industry

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

99 Moby Thesaurus words for "protect":
   abet, advocate, aid, arm, armor, assist, avail, bail out,
   bear a hand, befriend, benefit, bless, bulwark, care for, champion,
   cloak, comfort, compass about, conserve, copyright, cover, cushion,
   defend, do good, doctor, ease, ensure, favor, fence, fend, flank,
   foster, give a boost, give a hand, give a lift, give help,
   guarantee, guard, guard against, harbor, haven, help, insure, keep,
   keep alive, keep from harm, keep intact, keep inviolate, keep safe,
   keep up, lend a hand, lend one aid, maintain, make safe, make sure,
   mind, nestle, not destroy, not endanger, not expend, not use up,
   not waste, nurture, patent, play safe, police, preserve,
   proffer aid, rally, reclaim, redeem, register, relieve, remedy,
   render assistance, rescue, restore, resuscitate, revive,
   ride shotgun for, safeguard, save, screen, secure, set up, shelter,
   shield, shroud, spare, succor, support, sustain, take care of,
   take in tow, take precautions, tend, underwrite, uphold,
   watch over