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redefy
de·fy
/
v.
dɪˈfaɪ;
n.
dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi
faɪ
/
Show Spelled
[
v.
dih-
fahy
;
n.
dih-
fahy
,
dee
-fahy
]
Show IPA
verb,
de·fied,
de·fy·ing,
noun,
plural
de·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
.
00:10
Redefy
is always a great word to know.
So is
gobo
. Does it mean:
So is
callithumpian
. Does it mean:
So is
ninnyhammer
. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
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Origin:
1250–1300;
Middle English
defien
<
Old French
desfier,
equivalent to
des-
dis-
1
+
fier
to trust <
Vulgar Latin
*fīdāre,
variant of
Latin
fīdere
Related forms
de·fi·a·ble,
adjective
de·fy·ing·ly,
adverb
pre·de·fy,
verb (used with object),
pre·de·fied,
pre·de·fy·ing.
re·de·fy,
verb (used with object),
re·de·fied,
re·de·fy·ing.
un·de·fi·a·ble,
adjective
un·de·fi·a·b·ly,
adverb
un·de·fied,
adjective
Synonyms
1.
dare, brave, flout, scorn.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To
redefy
Collins
World English Dictionary
defy
(dɪˈfaɪ)
—
vb
,
-fies
,
-fying
,
-fied
1.
to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
2.
to elude, esp in a baffling way:
his actions defy explanation
3.
formal
to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dare:
I defy you to climb that cliff
4.
archaic
to invite to do battle or combat
[C14: from Old French
desfier,
from
des-
de-
+
fier
to trust, from Latin
fīdere
]
de'fier
—
n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
defy
c.1300, from O.Fr. defier, desfier, 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
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