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de·fy
Audio Help [v. di-fahy; n. di-fahy, dee-fahy] Pronunciation Key verb, -fied, -fy·ing, noun, plural -fies.
—Related forms
Audio Help [v. di-fahy; n. di-fahy, dee-fahy] Pronunciation Key verb, -fied, -fy·ing, noun, plural -fies. –verb (used with object)
–noun
| 1. | to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority. |
| 2. | to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack. |
| 3. | to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge. |
| 4. | Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest. |
| 5. | a challenge; a defiance. |
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME defien < OF desfier, equiv. to des- dis-1 + fier to trust < VL *fīdāre, var. of L fīdere
]
] —Related forms
de·fi·a·ble, adjective
de·fy·ing·ly, adverb
—Synonyms 1. dare, brave, flout, scorn.
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
defy
To learn more about defy visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| de·fy
Audio Help (dĭ-fī') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·fied, de·fy·ing, de·fies
[Middle English defien, from Old French desfier, from Vulgar Latin *disfīdāre : Latin dis-, dis- + Latin fīdus, faithful; see bheidh- in Indo-European roots.] Synonyms: These verbs mean to confront boldly and courageously: an innovator defying tradition; braving all criticism; challenged the opposition to produce proof; daring him to deny the statement; faced her accusers. |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
defy
c.1300, from O.Fr. defier, from V.L. *disfidare "renounce one's faith," from L. dis- "away" + fidus "faithful." Meaning shifted 14c. from "be disloyal" to "challenge."
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| defy | |
verb | |
| 1. | resist or confront with resistance; "The politician defied public opinion"; "The new material withstands even the greatest wear and tear"; "The bridge held" |
| 2. | elude, especially in a baffling way; "This behavior defies explanation" [ant: apply] |
| 3. | challenge; "I dare you!" |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
defy1 [diˈfai] verb
to dare (someone to act); to challenge
Example: I defy you to try and stop me!
defy2 [diˈfai] verbExample: I defy you to try and stop me!
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to resist boldly or openly
Example: Are you defying my authority?
Example: Are you defying my authority?
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
Defy
De*fi"ance\, n. [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to challenge, F. d['e]fier. See Defy.]1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat. A war without a just defiance made. --Dryden. Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down. --Tennyson. 2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition. He breathed defiance to my ears. --Shak. 3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [Obs.] "Defiance to thy kindness." --Ford. To bid defiance, To set at defiance, to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously. --Locke.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Defy
De*fi"ant\, a. [Cf. F. d['e]fiant, p. pr. of d['e]fier. See Defy.] Full of defiance; bold; insolent; as, a defiant spirit or act. In attitude stern and defiant. --Longfellow. -- De*fi"ant*ly, adv. -- De*fi"ant*ness, n.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
DEFY
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