defy
[ verb dih-fahy; noun dih-fahy, dee-fahy ]
/ verb dɪˈfaɪ; noun dɪˈfaɪ, ˈdi faɪ /
verb (used with object), de·fied, de·fy·ing.
to challenge the power of; resist boldly or openly: to defy parental authority.
to offer effective resistance to: a fort that defies attack.
to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.
Archaic. to challenge to a combat or contest.
noun, plural de·fies.
a challenge; a defiance.
RELATED WORDS
resist, spurn, thwart, violate, withstand, confront, ridicule, elude, flout, ignore, oppose, disregard, provoke, mock, repulse, despise, brave, insult, slight, face
Nearby words
- defunctive,
- defund,
- defuse,
- defusion,
- defuze,
- deg,
- deg.,
- degame,
- deganawidah,
- degas
Origin of defy
1250–1300; Middle English defien < Old French desfier, equivalent to des- dis-1 + fier to trust < Vulgar Latin *fīdāre, variant of Latin fīdere
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for defy
defy
/ (dɪˈfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
to resist (a powerful person, authority, etc) openly and boldly
to elude, esp in a baffling wayhis actions defy explanation
formal to challenge or provoke (someone to do something judged to be impossible); dareI defy you to climb that cliff
archaic to invite to do battle or combat
Word Origin for defy
C14: from Old French desfier, from des- de- + fier to trust, from Latin fīdere
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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defy
c.1300, "to renounce one's allegiance;" mid-14c., "to challenge, defy," from Old French defier, desfier "to challenge, defy, provoke; renounce (a belief), repudiate (a vow, etc.)," from Vulgar Latin *disfidare "renounce one's faith," from Latin dis- "away" (see dis-) + fidus "faithful" (see faith).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper