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defy - 5 dictionary results

de⋅fy

  [v. di-fahy; n. di-fahy, dee-fahy] verb, -fied, -fy⋅ing, noun, plural -fies.
Use defy in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defy
de·fy   (dĭ-fī')   
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.
  2. To be unaffected by; resist or withstand: "So the plague defied all medicines" (Daniel Defoe).
  3. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Defy

De*fy"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied; p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] [F. d['e]fier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.]

1. To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.]

I defy the surety and the bond. --Chaucer.

For thee I have defied my constant mistress. --Beau. & Fl.

2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.

I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight. --Milton.

I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary. --Burke.

Defy

De*fy"\, n. A challenge. [Obs.] --Dryden.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : defy
Spanish: desafiar,
German: herausfordern,
Japanese: 挑戦する
More Translations »

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
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