View synonyms for defile

defile

[ dih-fahyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, de·filed, de·fil·ing.

to make foul, dirty, or unclean; pollute; taint; debase.
to make impure for ceremonial use; desecrate.
to sully, as a person's reputation.
Archaic. to violate the chastity of.

defile

[ dih-fahyl, dee-fahyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any narrow passage, especially between mountains.

verb (used without object)

, de·filed, de·fil·ing.

to march in a line or by files.

defile

/ dɪˈfaɪl /

verb

to make foul or dirty; pollute
to tarnish or sully the brightness of; taint; corrupt
to damage or sully (someone's good name, reputation, etc)
to make unfit for ceremonial use; desecrate
to violate the chastity of

defile

/ ˈdiːfaɪl; dɪˈfaɪl /

noun

a narrow pass or gorge, esp one between two mountains
a single file of soldiers, etc

verb

military to march or cause to march in single file

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Derived Forms

deˈfilement, noun
deˈfiler, noun

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Other Words From

de·fil·a·ble adjective
de·file·ment noun
de·fil·er noun
de·fil·ing·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of defile¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defilen, defelen, alteration of defoilen (by association with filen “to defile” ( file ³ ), from Anglo-French, Old French defouler “to trample on, violate”; compare Old English befȳlan “to befoul”

Origin of defile²

1675–85; < French défilé, noun use of past participle of défiler to file off; defilade

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Word History and Origins

Origin of defile¹

C14: from earlier defoilen (influenced by filen to file ³), from Old French defouler to trample underfoot, abuse, from de- + fouler to tread upon; see full ²

Origin of defile²

C17: from French défilé, from défiler to file off, from filer to march in a column, from Old French: to spin, from fil thread, from Latin fīlum

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Example Sentences

Smoking, the statement suggests, will direct their actions, defile their bodies and “cost them” a great deal.

From The Daily Beast

Ripperda's equipage wound down a long and twisting defile between two precipitous rocks.

From Project Gutenberg

We spurred across the plain to the mouth of a deep, wooded defile, through which the Prussian grand corps d'armée were advancing.

From Project Gutenberg

The ridge was broken by a notch, and the road crawled through the opening and into the defile.

From Project Gutenberg

Firing at point-blank range, struggling bayonet against bayonet, the small French force worked its way towards the defile.

From Project Gutenberg

And I will give it into the hands of strangers for spoil, and to the wicked of the earth for a prey, and they shall defile it.

From Project Gutenberg

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