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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

de·fy

Audio Help [v. di-fahy; n. di-fahy, dee-fahy] Pronunciation Key verb, -fied, -fy·ing, noun, plural -fies.

–verb (used with object)

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.

–noun

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.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
defy

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

de·fy Audio Help (dĭ-fī') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. de·fied, de·fy·ing, de·fies

1. To oppose or resist with boldness and assurance: defied the blockade by sailing straight through it.
2. To refuse to submit to or cooperate with: defied the court order by leaving the country.
To be unaffected by; resist or withstand: "So the plague defied all medicines" (Daniel Defoe).
To challenge or dare (someone) to do something: She defied her accusers to prove their charges.

[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.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

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!"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
defy1 [diˈfai] verb

to dare (someone to act); to challenge
Example: I defy you to try and stop me!

Arabic:	يَتَحَدّى
Chinese (Simplified):	挑起，激起
Chinese (Traditional):	挑起，激起
Czech:	vyzvat
Danish:	udfordre
Dutch:	uitdagen
Estonian:	välja kutsuma
Finnish:	haastaa
French:	défier
German:	herausfordern
Greek:	προκαλώ
Hungarian:	kihív
Icelandic:	skora á, ögra
Indonesian:	menantang
Italian:	sfidare

Japanese:	挑戦する
Korean:	남에게 …해보라고 하다
Latvian:	izaicināt
Lithuanian:	skatinti
Norwegian:	trasse, trosse, utfordre
Polish:	wyzywać
Portuguese (Brazil):	desafiar
Portuguese (Portugal):	desafiar
Romanian:	a desfide; a provoca
Russian:	бросать вызов
Slovak:	vyzvať
Slovenian:	izzivati
Spanish:	desafiar
Swedish:	utmana
Turkish:	meydan okuma

defy2 [diˈfai] verb

to resist boldly or openly
Example: Are you defying my authority?

Arabic:	يُقاوِم، يَتَحَدّى
Chinese (Simplified):	公然反抗
Chinese (Traditional):	公然反抗
Czech:	vzpírat se, vzdorovat
Danish:	trodse
Dutch:	trotseren
Estonian:	vastu hakkama
Finnish:	uhmata
French:	défier
German:	trotzen
Greek:	αψηφώ
Hungarian:	ellenszegül
Icelandic:	storka, bjóða byrginn
Indonesian:	menentang
Italian:	sfidare

Japanese:	無視する
Korean:	도전하다, 반항하다
Latvian:	nepakļauties; ignorēt
Lithuanian:	stoti prieš, ignoruoti
Norwegian:	trosse, heve seg over
Polish:	przeciwstawiać się
Portuguese (Brazil):	desafiar
Portuguese (Portugal):	desafiar
Romanian:	a sfida
Russian:	открыто не повиноваться
Slovak:	vzdorovať
Slovenian:	upirati se
Spanish:	desafiar
Swedish:	trotsa
Turkish:	karşı gelmek

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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 - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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